The US House of Representatives has passed legislation providing new aid to Ukraine and imposing additional sanctions on Russia, marking a significant challenge to President Donald Trump’s position on the war and exposing divisions within his Republican Party.
The Ukraine Support Act was approved by a vote of 226 to 195, with 18 Republicans and one independent joining Democrats to back the measure after lawmakers used a rare discharge petition to force it onto the House floor. The bill had been stalled for months.
The legislation authorises more than $1 billion in assistance for Ukraine and up to $8 billion in direct loans to support Kyiv. It also includes sanctions and export controls targeting Russian financial institutions, the oil and mining sectors, and Russian officials.
The vote is the latest sign of resistance from some Republicans to Trump’s foreign policy agenda. It came a day after a separate group of House Republicans joined Democrats to approve a resolution aimed at limiting the president’s authority to continue military operations against Iran without congressional approval.
Despite clearing the House, the future of the Ukraine Support Act remains uncertain. The bill must still pass the Senate, where Republican leaders have so far declined to bring similar Russia sanctions measures to a vote while awaiting guidance from Trump. The president is also expected to oppose the legislation if it reaches his desk.
The House action comes as US support for Ukraine has declined since Trump returned to office in 2025 and as efforts to secure a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine remain stalled.
Faridah Abdulkadiri
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