By Sareen Habeshian
- Published 5 June 2026
The US House of Representatives has approved legislation to give aid to Ukraine and impose sanctions against Russia, with more than a dozen Republicans defying their leadership to vote in favour of the bill.
Some 18 Republicans joined Democrats to back the Ukraine Support Act on Thursday, which passed in a 226 to 195 vote.
It’s the latest instance of Republicans breaking from President Donald Trump recently.
However, it’s unlikely the bill will become law, as it must also be passed by the Senate and then gain Trump’s signature.
In a largely symbolic vote earlier this week, a handful of Republicans in the House backed a resolution seeking to stop Trump from taking further military action in Iran.
The Ukraine Support Act would provide more than $1 billion (£745 million) in security and reconstruction aid, and would authorize $8 billion (£6 billion) in financing loans for Ukraine’s defense operations.
The House was able to force a vote on the measure Thursday after Republican supporters of the bill joined Democrats in signing a discharge petition that essentially allows a majority to circumvent leadership.
It comes a day after the House passed a measure that sought to halt Trump from taking further military action in Iran, in a largely symbolic vote.
That vote was successful after four Republicans joined Democrats in a public show of disapproval of the Iran war.
The White House dismissed the merits of that resolution, saying it is an unconstitutional attempt to restrict presidential power. But its passing was significant because it adds to the pressure on the White House to find an end to the Iran War.
The Trump administration also dropped its plans to create an “anti-weaponisation” fund, after strong criticism from Democrats and some Republicans this week.
In a blow to the president, Republicans threatened to derail a critical immigration bill if the administration didn’t drop the plan to give public funds to Trump supporters.
- Zelensky proposes face-to-face talks in open letter to Putin
- Published5 hours ago
Earlier on Thursday, Volodymyr Zelensky called for a face-to-face meeting between himself and Vladimir Putin in a renewed bid to end the Russia-Ukraine war.
In an open letter to the Russian president, the Ukrainian leader said it would be “wrong to simply wait” until the war in Europe becomes the focus of the US’s attention once more, adding peace could only come “through direct engagement between” Ukraine and Russia.
He also called for a full ceasefire for the duration of proposed negotiations – something Putin ruled out earlier on Thursday.
Trump said on Thursday he thought “it would be great” if the two leaders met.
Ceasefire negotiations have stalled in recent months, and previous peace talks in Geneva, Abu Dhabi and Istanbul have failed.
The Ukrainian president’s letter came on the same day Putin was in St Petersburg, where a major economic forum is taking place.
The previous day Kyiv had launched a drone attack on the city’s outskirts, a strike mentioned in Zelensky’s message as “paying a visit”.
Separately Russian-backed authorities in occupied Crimea blamed Ukraine for the death of four people in attacks on Simferopol. Ukraine said it had hit a fuel depot.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/clypy34wd05o
So, 18 Republicans defied their dominant Putin Wing.
What do you call that?
I call it a start ….
Good. But it still disgusts me to see the majority of those asshats being fascist pigs.
From Stand With Ukraine :
Liza Rose :
🔴 GOOD NEWS: H.R. 2913 ‘The Ukraine Support Act ‘ passed the House. Next steps are crucial. President Donald J. Trump will need sign off and Trump is Vladimir Putin’s play toy.
“Next Steps.
Because the legislation — which authorizes $8 billion in military loans to Ukraine and imposes new sanctions on Russia — is a standard act of Congress, it is subject to the regular legislative process. This means it must:
1. Pass the full House of Representatives (which it did by a 226-195 vote).
2. Pass the full Senate in identical form.
3. Be presented to the President for his signature.
Key Takeaways from the House Vote:
1. The GOP revealed itself as standing with evil.
GOP House Representative votes for the Ukraine Support Act:
– Wednesday it was 6.
– Thursday it became 18 GOP.
A handful of Republicans saw the light and switched their votes from standing with evil Russia to aligning with good, Ukraine.
2. One Democrat Ihan Omar voted against.
The unfortunate truth remains.
194 United States Republicans stood with the evil war criminals of Russia.
And that my friends is inexcusable.
There is a chance for this grouping of 194 to redeem themselves, discovering a moral compass by advocating for Ukraine.
After the process in the Senate, the president needs to sign it.
He could veto it.
As we know, Donald J. Trump acts on behalf of the Russian regime.
There is a bright light that may cause Donald Trump to add his final signature — midterms.
I believe we need convince Trump that his veto of the Ukraine Support Act would be received as standing with the enemy, and against an ally — a traitorous move.
A move that would cost him the midterms.
Let’s promote this notion to Trump in our advocacy for good.
To stand with Ukraine is to stand with Americans, Europe, Democracy and Humanity.
And a vote for Russia will cost you midterms!”
Roman Sheremeta:
The US Congress passed the Ukraine Support Act by a vote of 226-195 to provide military aid to Ukraine and impose tough sanctions on Russia.
“Tonight, the House faced a Churchill vs. Chamberlain moment. Stand on the side of freedom and democracy, or show weakness to an invading thug who wants to restore Russian domination over a free people. Tonight, we chose Churchill.” –
Congressman Don Bacon
From Don Bacon’s Wiki page :
“In April 2022, the Russian Federation sanctioned and banned Bacon in retaliation for U.S. participation in sanctions against pro-war members of the Russian Duma.
In February 2023, Bacon signed a letter advocating for President Joe Biden to give F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine.
Following the highly contentious White House meeting between President Trump and Volodymir Zelenskyy in February 2025, Bacon described the summit as “a bad day for America’s foreign policy.” In an interview with CNN, he described Trump’s stance on Russia as “too conciliatory” and amounting to “walking away” from America’s legacy as the leader of the free world. Bacon contrasted his foreign policy worldview with that of the Trump administration, saying:
“I’m not interested in a foreign policy that is totally built on realism, or transactionalism, where it’s just, ‘What do we have in it for us?’ I believe in having a foreign policy where it’s a mix of realism, protecting our country, and idealism.”
On 60 Minutes, Bacon described Trump’s approach as “appeasement”, expressing concern that the post-Cold War order of unipolar U.S. hegemony “is going to collapse.”
In March 2025, Bacon said the Trump administration needed “more discipline” after advisor Elon Musk called Senator Mark Kelly a “traitor” for visiting Ukraine and instructed Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski to “be quiet, small man.” Bacon told CNN: “It’s not appropriate. It’s not right.”
Let’s have the Putin Wing of the GOP (Groupies Of Putin) burned to the ground and Don Bacon take over.
The BBC is not social media.
And neither is Don Bacon’s post from earlier.