The US House of Representatives has passed a sweeping Ukraine aid and Russia sanctions bill, directly defying President Donald Trump's opposition to further support for Kyiv and new penalties on Moscow.
Lawmakers approved the Ukraine Support Act in a 226–195 vote after months of internal Republican disputes over funding for the war-torn country. The bill had been stalled in committee, but House leaders moved it to the floor amid growing concern about Ukraine's battlefield position and Russia's continued offensive operations.
The legislation authorizes more than $1 billion in assistance for Ukraine, including funds for security, air defense, and reconstruction projects in cities damaged by Russian attacks, according to Reuters.
It also makes up to $8 billion available as direct loans for weapons and other defense needs, reflecting pressure from some Republicans to structure aid as repayable support rather than open-ended grants.
Beyond direct assistance, the bill imposes new sanctions and export controls on key segments of Russia's economy, including major financial institutions, the oil and gas sector, mining operations, and senior government officials.
The measures are designed to tighten restrictions on Russian revenue and technology access, building on earlier US and allied sanctions introduced after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
The vote underscores a significant split within the Republican Party, as more than a dozen GOP lawmakers joined Democrats and an independent to advance the bill despite Trump's public calls to block additional Ukraine funding.
Republican leaders had warned that the legislation could complicate broader negotiations over foreign policy priorities in Trump's second term, but those arguments failed to sway enough members.
Read more: Russia Launches Fresh Wave of Drones and Missiles on Ukraine, More Than 20 People Reported Dead
Trump has repeatedly criticized new Ukraine aid packages and urged Congress to focus instead on domestic issues and negotiations with Russia, framing large-scale foreign assistance as contrary to his "America First" agenda, The Guardian reported.
His allies in the House echoed those themes during floor debate, arguing that existing commitments and earlier $95 billion foreign aid packages already placed a significant burden on US taxpayers.
Supporters of the bill, led by Democratic Representative Gregory Meeks of New York, argued that sustained US backing is essential to prevent further Russian advances and to reassure European allies.
They said the combination of direct aid, loans, and expanded sanctions is intended to give Ukraine the means to defend itself while increasing economic pressure on Moscow to curtail its military campaign.
The measure also extends the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative through 2027, providing a framework for future military and reconstruction support if Congress chooses to appropriate additional funds in the coming years.
The bill now moves to the Senate, where its prospects will test the broader US political consensus on long-term involvement in the conflict and on the scope of sanctions against Russia, as per US News.
© 2026 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
