U.S. Senate Committee Proposes $750 Million in Military Aid for Ukraine – Reuters

The U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee voted to continue providing security assistance to Ukraine and to increase funding to $750 million under the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI). Under this program, American companies are paid for the direct supply of weapons to the Armed Forces of Ukraine. 

This decision marks yet another instance of Congress’s resistance to the Trump administration’s efforts to cut support for Kyiv, which is fighting against Russian invasion. 

The version of the annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) passed by the Senate, which sets Pentagon policy, also contains a number of important political provisions. In particular, the document prohibits the use of any approved funds for activities that would imply recognition of Russia’s sovereignty over internationally recognized territories of Ukraine. In addition, the bill directs the U.S. Department of Defense to continue providing intelligence support to Kyiv to defend and regain control of Ukrainian territories. In contrast, the House version of the NDAA supported Trump’s initiative to rename the Department of Defense as the Department of War.

The Senate’s comprehensive bill allocates $1.15 trillion for U.S. defense and must undergo a lengthy approval process before taking effect. After approval by the relevant committees, the texts must be separately approved by the full House of Representatives and Senate, after which lawmakers will work out a single compromise version. Only after a second vote by both chambers will the agreed-upon document go to the White House, where Donald Trump can sign it or veto it.