What US midterm elections mean for Ukraine, Iran and elsewhere

Donald Trump's Republicans will no longer control the US Congress after the Democrats flipped both chambers in the midterm elections. The outcome could impact conflicts in Europe and the Middle East. The outcome of the midterm election will shape policy in the United States for years and have repercussions around the globe.

Decisions made in Washington affect both US adversaries such as Iran and countries such as Ukraine , which is seeking more US support. President Donald Trump does not have the final say when it comes to deciding where the United States goes to war or which countries get financial or military aid. While the president wields more power in the US than in parliamentary democracies such as Germany, he does not govern alone — even in the land of opportunity.

The House of Representatives and the Senate, the two chambers of Congress in which the Democratic Party secured a clear majority on Tuesday, wield considerable influence. They decide on legislation and government spending and also serve as a check on the president and the intelligence agencies.