The House on Wednesday advanced a bipartisan measure aimed at boosting Ukraine’s defenses against Russia and levying economic sanctions on Moscow.
Thursday’s procedural vote was 218-204, with six Republicans and one independent joining Democrats in support of the measure despite opposition from Republican leaders. Supporters recently secured the needed 218 signatures on a discharge petition to force the vote.
Opponents argued that the legislation contained outdated provisions and said supporters were distorting President Donald Trump’s record of support for Ukraine, a move that could undercut his efforts to negotiate an end to the war. The Trump administration has pursued peace negotiations mainly through Moscow and at times suspended aid to Ukraine, which is increasingly turning to NATO allies for help.
“The Democrats want to tie the president’s hands,” Rep. Brian Mast (R-Florida), who chairs the House Foreign Affairs Committee, told NOTUS. “There’s never been a lack of support, whether against Russia or for Ukraine. It’s been ongoing for years now.”
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A House vote to pass the bill is expected as soon as Thursday, but even if it succeeds, the bill has uncertain prospects for becoming law. The Senate is not expected to pick it up, and if it passed, it would be subject to a presidential veto.
Republican backers said they were taking a moral stand and sending a message of support for Ukraine. Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas) said he opposes discharge petitions generally because they work around the committees with jurisdiction, but he was voting for the bill.
“For me, it’s a moral conscience issue, especially after we saw three hypersonic missiles fired into Ukraine,” McCaul told NOTUS. “We need to send a strong message to them that we support them.”
Rep. Mike Lawler (R-New York), who voted for the measure, said it should not be interpreted as a rebuke of Trump.
“This is about affirmatively supporting Ukraine and making clear where Congress stands with respect to Russia, and from my standpoint, applying sanctions,” he said.
Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-New York), the House Foreign Affairs Committee’s top Democrat, introduced the bill in 2025 that recently surpassed 218 supporters when Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pennsylvania) and Rep. Kevin Kiley (I-California) signed onto his discharge petition.
Fitzpatrick, a Ukraine Caucus cochair, said ahead of the vote that supporters were lobbying for more Republican support in expectation of tight margins. He said ahead of the vote he expected momentum to pass it in the House if it squeaked through on Wednesday, with more Republican backing.
“I have always believed in peace through strength,” Fitzpatrick told NOTUS. “We’ve always believed in countering Russian aggression. That is the legacy of Ronald Reagan, who is my personal favorite president in our lifetime. A lot of people joined the Republican Party because of Ronald Reagan. What would he do here?”
The legislation would authorize hundreds of millions of dollars in security assistance, provide Ukraine with access to as much as $8 billion in loans to purchase U.S. military equipment and impose added sanctions targeting Russia’s banking and energy sectors. It also reaffirms support for Ukraine as Russia continues the war into its fifth year.
The legislation also would authorize $300 million annually in 2026 and 2027 to train and equip Ukraine’s military. And it includes aid for the Baltic nations of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia.
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