Eighteen Republican lawmakers defied party leadership on Thursday to side with Democrats in approving the first major aid package to Ukraine of Donald Trump’s second term.
The bill, which passed in a 296-195 House vote and advances to the Senate where it needs 60 votes to go to Trump’s desk, would provide $1.3 billion in security assistance to Ukraine, authorize $8 billion in arms sales, and extend a Biden-era military lend-lease program. It would also expand sanctions against Russia, including imposing new oil and gas sanctions at a time when the Trump Administration has rolled some back to alleviate rising energy prices resulting from the U.S. war with Iran.
“Today’s vote was a victory for Ukraine, for the United States, for freedom, and for international law. It was made possible because Democrats and Republicans came together behind an effort that is bigger than partisan politics,” Rep. Steny Hoyer (D, Md.), who co-sponsored the bill that was introduced by Rep. Greg Meeks (D, N.Y.), said after the vote.
The bill’s passage is a significant show of defiance against Trump and GOP leadership.
The Trump Administration has criticized U.S. assistance to Ukraine approved under the Joe Biden Administration and opposed sending further aid. Speaker Mike Johnson reportedly called on Republican lawmakers to oppose the measure, arguing that it could impact Trump’s negotiations with Russia.
Trump has also pressed for talks to end the now-four-year-long war, which he said he would do within 24 hours after becoming President again but has made little progress. The war between Russia and Ukraine, which began in February 2022, has escalated in recent weeks, with both countries exchanging deadly attacks that have killed dozens of civilians.
The bill was brought to a vote by a discharge petition authored by Meeks and Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R, Pa.), co-chair of the congressional Ukraine caucus. The petition allows House members to bypass leadership in forcing a vote. Independent California Rep. Kevin Kiley delivered the 218th signature needed for a vote, joining Fitzpatrick, Rep. Don Bacon (R, Neb.) and 215 Democrats.
The measure seeks to impose new sanctions on Russian leaders and institutions, a 500% tariff on all Russian imports to the U.S., and a ban on Russian crude oil imports into the U.S. It also affirms U.S. support for the importance of NATO amid Trump’s derisions of NATO allies for not spending enough on defense.
Thursday’s vote is the latest bipartisan rebuke against Trump. Earlier on Wednesday, the House passed a war powers resolution directing the President to end hostilities with Iran, with four Republicans breaking ranks to approve the resolution. The Senate is also locked in a fight over a Republican-backed immigration enforcement package, with Democrats and some Republicans pushing for amendments to formally bar or restrict Trump’s controversial $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization fund.”
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