US will allocate new aid to Ukraine

The decision was made without the usual procedure thanks to the votes of some Republicans, who opposed President Donald Trump's position, The Hill reports.

The bill was supported by 226 members of Congress, with 195 opposed. The document was brought to a vote using a special petition process, bypassing committees (called discharge petitions). The Democrats were joined by 18 Republicans and one independent, Representative Kevin Kiley, whose vote launched the process.

"We all want this war to end. The question is, how?" said Gregory Meeks, the ranking minority member on the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

He called on Congress to support the brave Ukrainians fighting for their future, provide them with the weapons they need to defend themselves, make the Kremlin pay a heavy price for this immoral conflict, and hold Russia accountable for its war crimes.

In addition to funding for Ukraine's reconstruction and sanctions against Russia, the bill provides for countering Russian influence, allocating additional security assistance to the Baltic states, and providing Ukraine with Foreign Military Financing loans for arms purchases.

Despite the successful vote, the bill is unlikely to be considered in the Republican-controlled Senate. Republican Majority Leader John Thune rarely disagrees with Trump's position.

The vote marked a decline in support for Ukraine among Republicans: only 18 members of the party supported the bill, compared to 101 Republicans who voted in April 2024 for additional aid to Ukraine.

Republicans who opposed the bill criticized it for its outdated language and called it a purely partisan, declaratory measure designed to divide their ranks. Brian Mast, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, wrote to his fellow party members that the Democrats' actions were hindering President Trump's attempts to mediate an end to the war. Meeks accused Republicans of weakening Ukraine's position by continually blocking sanctions and delaying aid.

Meanwhile, another initiative by Senators Lindsey Graham and Richard Blumenthal has remained blocked in the Senate since April 2025. Their bipartisan bill proposes sanctions against Russia and high tariffs on countries purchasing Russian oil. There has been no progress on this issue due to disputes over the wording, but Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated at a hearing on May 3 that he supports the tools provided by the Graham-Blumenthal initiative.

Photo: OP.