US Senate panel approves $750 million in new aid for Ukraine
The bill was approved by a US Senate committee (photo: Getty Images)
The US Senate Armed Services Committee voted to allocate $750 million in aid for Ukraine. The same bill also renames the Department of Defense as the Department of War, Reuters reports.
What the committee approved
The Senate Armed Services Committee completed work on its version of the annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), with total funding of $1.15 trillion.
The document provides $750 million for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, a program that funds the purchase of weapons from US companies for the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
The bill also prohibits the use of any funds to recognize Russian sovereignty over Ukrainian territories. It requires US agencies to provide Kyiv with intelligence support for the defense and recovery of those territories.
Renaming the Pentagon
The Senate version of the NDAA backed Trump's idea of renaming the Department of Defense as the Department of War — a position also supported by the House committee. Democrats, however, oppose the move.
What comes next
The bill is still far from being signed into law. After approval in committees, it must pass votes in both chambers of Congress, then be reconciled between them, and only afterward can it be sent to the president for signature or veto.
A week ago, the House of Representatives already voted in favor of aid for Ukraine and sanctions against Russia, despite opposition from Republican leadership.
Trump's special envoy, Keith Kellogg, made a surprising statement about the pause in negotiations among Ukraine, the United States, and Russia, highlighting certain positive aspects. At the same time, the leaders of France, Germany, and the United Kingdom are preparing to persuade Trump to change his approach to negotiations with Russia.
Meanwhile, Putin rejects a ceasefire, opposes the presence of European troops in Ukraine, and demands that Kyiv give up part of the Donetsk region that Russia has not yet captured — a demand Ukraine categorically rejects.
