US Congress approves defense bill with funding for Ukraine
Illustrative photo: US Congress (Getty Images)
In the US, the House of Representatives, the lower house of Congress, approved the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for 2026. The approved defense budget includes funds to assist Ukraine, according to The Guardian.
The total US defense budget in 2026 will be $900 billion. Of this, $800 million is expected to be allocated to aid Ukraine, despite the position of President Donald Trump's administration.
The law also places a strong emphasis on European defense. The White House is prohibited from reducing the number of troops in Europe below 76,000 for a period of more than 45 days. It is also prohibited to export or transfer key military equipment.
In addition, $400 million is allocated for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI), and the program itself has been extended until 2029. Another $400 million is allocated for other Ukrainian needs.
Congress still has to separately approve funding for the Pentagon in the budget bill for fiscal year 2026. Unlike the calendar year, the fiscal year in the US begins and ends in September.
The updated version of the US defense budget bill for 2026 tightens restrictions on reducing military contingents in Europe and South Korea. The document aims to maintain stability in key regions and strengthen Washington's position among its allies.
A little earlier, US lawmakers released the final version of the defense bill for fiscal year 2026, setting a record level of financial spending on national security and support for Ukraine, with the total military budget amounting to $901 billion, which exceeds the May request from Donald Trump's administration by approximately $8 billion.
