The House passed a bipartisan bill to deliver fresh aid to Ukraine and impose sanctions against Russia, defying GOP leadership and President Trump’s stance on the war.
Thursday’s 226-195 vote, with passage thanks to a bloc of 18 Republicans who joined all but one Democrat to approve the bill, the Ukraine Support Act now heads to the Senate. Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota was the lone Democrat to vote against it.
The discharge petition, brought forth by Rep. Gregory Meeks, New York Democrat and ranking member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, was filed a year ago and secured its 218th signature last month, obligating House Speaker Mike Johnson to bring it to the floor despite his objections.
After the vote, Mr. Meeks said his measure “works to end one of the world’s deadliest conflicts by ensuring Ukraine is able to negotiate from a position of strength and not weakness.”
Its passage represents a blow to Mr. Johnson, who has faced a rising wave of successful discharge petitions — a procedural maneuver letting lawmakers bypass party leadership.
Mr. Johnson has not held a vote on U.S. aid to Ukraine since April 2024.
Rep. Kevin Kiley, a California independent who caucuses with Republicans, propelled the bill forward by becoming the 218th signatory. Two Republicans, aside from House Democrats, signed the petition: Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania and Don Bacon of Nebraska.
The bill would provide $1 billion in assistance for Ukraine and up to $8 billion in military financing loans, plus let the U.S. send Kyiv weapons directly from Pentagon stockpiles. It also imposes new sanctions on Russia, among other provisions.
Congress has appropriated about $195 billion for the Ukraine response and related U.S. operations in Europe since Russia’s 2022 invasion, according to a recent report from the Defense Department’s internal watchdog.
Mr. Trump’s resistance to the legislation comes as the U.S. has withdrawn support for Ukraine.
A recent wave of strikes killed dozens of civilians across multiple Ukrainian regions, and Russian forces have achieved incremental territorial gains throughout the four-year conflict.
Meanwhile, peace discussions are ongoing.
In an open letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy proposed a face-to-face meeting to resolve the war.
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