How Congress overcame Trump's resistance and how US Support for Ukraine can be restored
The US House of Representatives has passed the Ukraine Support Act.
For the first time since Donald Trump returned to the White House, the United States has moved closer to resuming military aid to Ukraine.
The initiative provides not only for security assistance to Kyiv, but also for US participation in Ukraine's post-war reconstruction, the introduction of sanctions against Russia and a new mechanism governing the easing of sanctions.
However, the decision is not final. The bill must still be considered by the Senate, where its chances of passing in its current form are extremely slim – though not entirely nonexistent.
Read more about the sweeping Ukraine Support Act, the procedural hurdles Ukraine's supporters have managed to overcome in Congress and the bill's prospects going forward in the article by European Pravda journalist Olha Kovalchuk: Aid despite Trump? How Congress passed the "Ukraine Bill" and what it changes.
The final vote in the House of Representatives, held overnight on 5 June Kyiv time, produced an unexpectedly strong result: 226 votes in favour and 95 against. Eighteen Republicans, members of Trump's own party, voted in support of the measure.
Lawmakers took this step despite pressure from the White House and Republican leadership.
The result can confidently be described as a success, given the internal dynamics of the Republican Party and Trump's continued influence. His backing remains crucial for Republican lawmakers hoping to win re-election to the House in the November 2026 midterm elections.
The Ukraine Support Act was introduced on 14 April last year. Its sponsor, Democratic Congressman Gregory Meeks of New York, argued at the time that the United States could not abandon support for Kyiv even amid intensified peace negotiations.
The more than 90-page bill comprehensively addresses every aspect of US support for Ukraine – from political declarations condemning Russia's invasion and war crimes to military assistance for Kyiv and sanctions against Russia.
One of its most notable provisions establishes conditions for lifting or easing sanctions, a power that currently rests largely with the president and his administration.
Under the proposal, the president could suspend sanctions only after formally certifying to Congress that Russia has completely ended its war against Ukraine and is complying with any peace agreements. If Russian aggression resumes, the sanctions would automatically be reinstated.
The bill also authorises up to $8 billion in direct loans for military equipment for Ukraine.
In addition, it extends the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) through 2027. USAI allows the US Department of Defense to procure weapons for Ukraine directly from American manufacturers. The bill allocates $300 million annually for the programme in both 2026 and 2027.
The authors also devote significant attention to US participation in Ukraine's post-war economic recovery.
Nevertheless, the chances that the bill will become law in its current form are close to zero.
It still requires Senate approval and must ultimately be signed by the president.
The Senate also has a pro-Trump majority, with 53 Republicans, 45 Democrats and two independents. Republican senators are generally regarded as more cautious than their counterparts in the House and are often reluctant to act without presidential backing.
However, there is a possibility that senators will introduce an alternative bill or substantial amendments to the version approved by the House.
At present, this is widely viewed as the most realistic path forward for Ukraine and its supporters in Washington. It is also where the main lobbying effort is now focused.
Yet regardless of whether the Ukraine Support Act ultimately becomes law, and in what form, the House vote on 4 June remains highly significant.
It demonstrated that meaningful bipartisan support for Ukraine still exists in Congress and that, despite pressure from the White House, a coalition of lawmakers is prepared to challenge the administration's approach to Ukraine policy.