House approves new Ukraine aid as over a dozen Republicans defect

Ukraine strikes Russian oil terminal, warship as strikes ramp up between the countries 03:10

Washington — The House approved an effort on Thursday to send fresh assistance to Ukraine after a few Republican members joined with Democrats to force a vote on the issue.

The procedural tactic, known as a discharge petition, was launched by Democratic Rep. Gregory Meeks of New York nearly a year ago. A discharge petition allows a majority of House members to bring a bill to the floor.

It had amassed most of the signatures it needed to force a floor vote months ago, but was one name short until May 13 when Rep. Kevin Kiley of California, an independent who caucuses with Republicans, was the decisive 218th signature. Every Democrat and two Republicans — Reps. Don Bacon of Nebraska and Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania — also signed the petition.

In a key vote Wednesday to discharge the measure from the House Rules Committee, half a dozen Republicans voted with Democrats to propel it toward a final passage vote.

The underlying legislation, also introduced by Meeks, who is the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, passed in a 226 to 195 vote. More than a dozen Republicans supported it. Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, who signed the petition, voted against it.

The legislation would authorize up to $8 billion in military loans for Ukraine. It also includes assistance for post-war reconstruction in Ukraine and new sanctions targeting Russia while reaffirming the importance of NATO.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has pleaded for more support from the U.S. as Russia intensifies attacks on Ukraine. Last week, Zelenskyy sent a letter to President Trump and Congress requesting additional Patriot ballistic missile interceptors.

In a news conference shortly after the vote, Meeks said the bill "works to end one of the world's deadliest conflicts by ensuring Ukraine is able to negotiate from a position of strength and not weakness."

The House's effort to circumvent leadership on support for Ukraine comes as bipartisan legislation in the Senate to impose new economic sanctions on Russia has languished for more than a year, with senators waiting for a green light from the White House. The fate of the House bill is uncertain in the Senate.

Bacon said he's hopeful that Thursday's vote will "shake up the Senate."

"I don't know if they'll pass this bill, but they're going to now know that we could pass something," he said.