Inna was sweeping up the shards of broken glass scattered outside her shop, yet her thoughts were thousands of miles away. She knew her country’s fate might hinge on the decisions of voters in the United States.  


"We hope Kamala Harris, the Democratic candidate in the November 5 U.S. election, will win and support us," Inna said.  


Her shop in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, bears the scars of the ongoing war with Russia. Its windows were shattered by bombings, a grim reality shared by many in the city. A nearby explosion left a massive crater, 10 meters (32 feet) wide, in the road outside her shop.  


"We’re anxious about the election results," she added. "We need support to defeat the enemy."  


In 2023, Ukrainian forces launched a counteroffensive against Russian troops in Zaporizhzhia, a critical battleground in southeastern Ukraine. Despite their hopes of reclaiming territory from the occupying forces, progress was minimal, leaving Ukrainians struggling to sustain their ambitions in a grinding war.

It is nearly impossible for Ukraine to achieve such hopes on its own; continued support from the United States remains crucial.  


In 2023, Ukrainian forces launched a counteroffensive against Russian troops in Zaporizhzhia, a key battleground in southeastern Ukraine. The goal was to drive out the occupying Russian forces, but progress was limited. Ukrainian troops face relentless missile and glide bomb attacks in cities and villages across the country, while their ambitions require sustained external support.  


"We hope Kamala Harris, the Democratic candidate in the U.S. election on November 5, will win and continue to support us," said Inna, a resident of Zaporizhzhia. Her city has endured daily bombings, leaving civilians and soldiers alike grappling with the war's toll.  


Democratic candidate and current Vice President Kamala Harris has signaled her commitment to continuing military assistance to Ukraine if she wins the election. However, her power could be constrained by a Republican-controlled Congress. If Republican candidate and former President Donald Trump wins, U.S. military aid to Ukraine may decline. Currently, U.S. support for Ukraine totals over $50 billion.  


### Potential Impact on Ukraine  


Whoever wins the U.S. presidency—Kamala Harris or Donald Trump—will significantly influence Ukraine and its border regions.  


For instance, if the U.S. under Trump pushes Ukraine to cede some territory to Russia, regions like Zaporizhzhia could become divided, resembling the situation in Korea after the 1950s armistice. Although fighting stopped, the Korean War has technically never ended. Trump has suggested he would “figure something out” to resolve the Ukraine-Russia conflict, hinting that territorial concessions might be required to end the war.  


Another possibility is a full withdrawal of U.S. support for Ukraine. This could embolden Russian forces to gradually seize more territory, potentially overtaking the entire country over time.  


Ukrainians overwhelmingly see Kamala Harris as their preferred candidate. Ukrainian journalists are actively working to counter Russian disinformation campaigns targeting her. However, support for Trump is growing in southern and eastern Ukraine, where some people hope his presidency could bring a quicker end to the war.  


A third scenario, in which Ukraine reclaims all occupied territories, seems increasingly unlikely.  


Andria, a Ukrainian soldier commanding a unit of U.S.-made armored vehicles, reflected on the stakes: “If U.S. aid stops or is reduced, the burden will fall entirely on our troops. We will fight with what we have, but everyone knows this war is not winnable for Ukraine alone.”