WASHINGTON — The U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation on Thursday providing additional security assistance to Ukraine and imposing new sanctions on Russia.
The bill passed by a vote of 226-195, with 18 Republicans joining Democrats in support, according to congressional records and multiple news outlets. The measure, known as the Ukraine Support Act, authorizes about $8 billion in military financing loans to Ukraine and extends the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative through 2027. It also includes provisions for additional security and reconstruction aid, estimated at more than $1 billion.
The legislation was sponsored by Rep. Gregory Meeks, D-N.Y., the ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. It advanced despite opposition from Republican leadership and the Trump administration, marking a notable bipartisan break in the Republican-controlled House during President Donald Trump's second term.
The package includes new sanctions targeting key segments of the Russian economy, such as oil, gas, and mining sectors, as well as measures against entities attempting to evade existing sanctions. Details on the full scope of sanctions remain subject to final implementation.
"This vote is not a process vote, it’s a statement on whether this Congress and all of its members stand with and support Ukraine and the people of Ukraine, and its fight for freedom, its fight for democracy, and its fight for liberty," Meeks said on the House floor, according to reports.
The vote followed a procedural step earlier in the week, where a discharge petition gathered the necessary 218 signatures to force consideration of the bill over leadership objections. Supporters, including some Republicans, cited the need for continued U.S. backing amid Russia's ongoing military actions in Ukraine. Opponents argued the measure could complicate diplomatic efforts and prioritized other domestic concerns.
The bill now heads to the Senate, where its prospects are uncertain. The White House has indicated potential opposition, though specific statements on a possible veto were not immediately detailed in available reports.
This marks the first major pro-Ukraine legislative action in the House during the current congressional session. Aid to Ukraine has been a point of division in U.S. politics since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022, with previous packages totaling tens of billions of dollars approved in prior years. The conflict has resulted in significant casualties and displacement on both sides, though exact current figures were not specified in Thursday's proceedings.
As of Friday, no immediate reaction from Ukrainian officials or further Senate scheduling was available. The legislation remains subject to additional congressional action and potential executive review.
