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The U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee has voted to continue security assistance for Ukraine and increase authorized funding for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) to $750 million, signaling continued congressional support for Kyiv despite efforts by the Trump administration to reduce aid, UATV English informs.
According to Reuters, the decision was included in the committee’s version of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), the annual defense policy bill that outlines Pentagon priorities and spending.
The Republican-controlled committee approved provisions allocating $750 million for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, a program that finances contracts with U.S. defense companies to provide weapons, equipment, and military support to Ukraine.
The Senate draft also includes language prohibiting the use of NDAA-authorized funds for any activity that would recognize Russian sovereignty over internationally recognized Ukrainian territory. In addition, it directs the U.S. Department of Defense to continue providing intelligence support to Ukraine for military operations aimed at defending or restoring control over occupied territories.
The committee’s action represents the latest indication of bipartisan support in Congress for maintaining assistance to Ukraine, even as debates continue within the administration over the future scale of U.S. involvement.
The Senate proposal was released one week after the House of Representatives approved separate legislation that includes additional support for Ukraine and new sanctions targeting Russia.
The broader NDAA package authorizes approximately $1.15 trillion in defense-related spending. However, the legislation still faces several procedural steps before becoming law.
Both the House and Senate must separately approve their respective versions of the bill. Lawmakers will then negotiate a compromise text that must again pass both chambers before being sent to the White House, where President Donald Trump will have the option to sign or veto the legislation.
The House version of the NDAA also includes a controversial provision supporting President Trump’s proposal to rename the Department of Defense as the Department of War, a measure opposed by Democratic lawmakers.
Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently indicated that the approval process for an additional $400 million military assistance package for Ukraine was expected to be completed in the near future.
The Senate committee’s decision underscores ongoing congressional efforts to maintain military support for Ukraine as the war with Russia continues.
Read also: Ukrainian Forces Cut Off Key Land Routes to Crimea from Occupied Kherson Region, — ISW
