U.S. House Passes Ukraine Aid Bill, Sanctions Russia, Defying Republican Leaders and Trump

The U.S. House passed legislation Thursday to aid Ukraine and sanction key segments of the Russian economy, overriding objections from Republican leaders who warned the bill would undermine negotiations.

“Several Republicans vote with Democrats to pass Ukraine aid, Russia sanctions package The legislation would allocate $1”

ABC News

The measure passed in a 296-195 House vote and 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, according to Time Magazine.

ABC News

PBS, citing an Associated Press report, said the House passed the legislation by a 226-195 vote and that it would provide more than $1 billion in security and reconstruction aid while making another $8 billion available for Ukraine’s defense through loans.

PBS also said the bill was sponsored by Rep. Gregory Meeks, D-N.Y., and that supporters forced action by gathering 218 signatures on a discharge petition to bypass leadership.

The Hill described the vote as 226-95 and said 18 Republicans and Independent Rep. Kevin Kiley joined Democrats after the measure was brought to the floor through a discharge petition by Rep. Gregory Meeks.

House Republicans’ split with Trump and GOP leadership played out through the discharge petition process, with Time Magazine saying the petition was authored by Rep. Greg Meeks and Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick and that Kevin Kiley delivered the 218th signature needed for a vote.

After the vote, Rep. Steny Hoyer, a co-sponsor, said, "Today’s vote was a victory for Ukraine, for the United States, for freedom, and for international law," in Time Magazine.

BBC

Opponents framed the bill as interfering with negotiations, with PBS quoting Rep. Brian Mast saying he believed the bill was "a cudgel to fight against President Trump."

The Hill reported that House Majority Leader Steve Scalise argued the vote undermines conversations between Congress and the White House to pass bipartisan sanctions legislation against Russia, and it quoted Scalise saying, "The discharge petition \"ignores really constructive bipartisan negotiations going on right now\"."

NBC News said the White House opposed the measure and that the bill would authorize $8 billion in loans to Ukraine and NATO allies under the Foreign Military Financing program, while also imposing sanctions on Russia.

The legislation now heads to the Senate, where it needs 60 votes to go to Trump’s desk, and multiple outlets described the path as uncertain or unlikely without Trump’s endorsement.

“- Published The US House of Representatives has approved legislation to give aid to Ukraine and impose sanctions against Russia, with more than a dozen Republicans defying their leadership to vote in favour of the bill”

BBC

Time Magazine said the bill advances to the Senate where it needs 60 votes, while also noting that Trump has criticized U.S. assistance to Ukraine approved under the Joe Biden Administration and opposed sending further aid.

NBC News said the bill faces a steeper uphill climb in the Senate and would need to be signed by President Donald Trump to become law, after the House vote.

Fox News reported that the White House said the legislation would undermine President Donald Trump’s goal of ending the prolonged conflict and that he would veto the measure, quoting the White House document that the bill would "tie the President’s hands".

In the House, Meeks argued the choice was whether to help Ukraine negotiate from a position of strength, telling the chamber, "We all want this war to end," and PBS said supporters were hopeful the House’s passage would put pressure on the Senate to act.