The US House of Representatives supported a bill on aid to Ukraine and sanctions against the russian federation

The US House of Representatives has passed a bill providing aid to Ukraine and imposing new sanctions against russia. The bill, known as the Ukraine Support Act, was backed by 226 members of Congress on Thursday, 4 June (local time), with 195 voting against. Among those who voted in favour were 207 Democrats, 18 Republicans and one independent congressman.

Such support is yet another sign of a rift in the previously almost unanimous backing for President Donald Trump’s policies among members of the Republican Party, notes Reuters.

Should the bill come into force, a special fund will be established for Ukraine’s reconstruction. Furthermore, the document restores the US President’s authority to transfer defence equipment to Ukraine and Eastern European countries on loan or lease. At the same time, according to the bill, the Pentagon will be authorised to provide Ukraine with intelligence support until the end of 2027, whilst the US State Department undertakes to strengthen the capabilities of the armed forces and border agencies of the Baltic states.

The bill also provides for over a billion dollars in aid to Ukraine, as well as authorising up to eight billion dollars in direct loans.

The document also requires the US President to impose sanctions on russia should it refuse to “negotiate in good faith a peace agreement with Ukraine” or breach such an agreement, should it be concluded.

In particular, the US President must freeze visas and assets of russian individuals and organisations, including Rosatom and certain financial institutions. The US President may also impose 500 per cent tariffs on russian goods and services.

Ukraine’s Ambassador to the US, Olha Stefanishyna, described the House of Representatives’ decision as “an important step forward”, emphasising that it demonstrates continued bipartisan support for Ukraine in the United States. “I am grateful to the members of the House of Representatives for keeping Ukraine high on the agenda and advancing legislation that strengthens security assistance, tightens sanctions against russia, supports Ukraine’s recovery and holds russia accountable for the deportation of Ukrainian children,” she wrote on X.

The bill now needs to be approved by the US Senate, where some Republicans are calling for cuts to foreign aid. However, as Reuters notes, even if the bill is passed by the upper house of Congress, Donald Trump is likely to exercise his veto. Upon returning to the White House in January 2025, his administration significantly slowed down the provision of aid to Ukraine.

As a reminder, a group of senators from both parties sent a letter to US Defence Secretary Pete Hagset at the end of last week demanding the immediate release of $600 million in aid to Ukraine and other allies in Eastern Europe. This comprises $400 million in aid to Ukraine and a further $200 million for defence programmes in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. These funds were allocated by Congress last year.

In early May, US President Donald Trump claimed that the war in Ukraine is continuing because his predecessor, Joe Biden, had allegedly provided Kyiv with $350 billion in financial aid.

Source: DW