Wednesday, 1 July 2026

Tim Kaine, Democratic Senator from Virginia, during a visit to Kyiv, April 2026

A top senator signaled strong bipartisan backing for continued military and economic assistance, but final approval hinges on budget negotiations in the Senate. Lawmakers caution that timing depends on top line spending agreements and Senate drafting of defense and domestic budgets.

According to the online media Radio Liberty.

The U.S. Congress expects that a new aid package for Ukraine could be approved by the end of the calendar year. These words were spoken during a press conference in Odesa on June 30 by Virginia Senator Tim Kaine, answering a question from Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.

Expectations for passage and context

According to him, the defense policy bill already provides strong sanctioned support for further defense aid to Ukraine. The Senate is currently working on budget alignment, and, based on past experience, budget bills are usually approved at the end of the year. Nevertheless, Kaine expressed confidence in a high level of bipartisan support for Ukraine and stated his commitment to this cause.

The good news is that the National Defense Act already provides strong sanctioned support for continuing defense aid to Ukraine. The Senate is now also working on the budget process. If we go by past experience, we usually pass budget bills at the end of the calendar year. But I am very encouraged by the level of bipartisan support for Ukraine. We remain committed to this support, Kaine said.

– Tim Kaine

Kaine also emphasized that the Senate is currently aligning the overall budget parameters – the so-called top-line figures for defense and civilian spending.

Earlier this month, the House of Representatives supported the Ukraine Support Act, and the relevant Senate committee approved increasing aid to Ukraine. The document envisions more than one billion dollars in aid to Ukraine, up to eight billion dollars in military loans, support for the country’s reconstruction, assistance to allies in the Baltic region, as well as a new package of sanctions against Russia’s financial, energy, mining, and state sectors.

The final passage of the package depends on aligning budget indicators in the Senate and subsequent votes by both chambers of Congress. According to lawmakers’ estimates, passage could occur within the current year.

In the context of Russia’s war against Ukraine, the U.S. administration continues to review the pace of military assistance, while Russia continues offensive actions, and Ukraine has defended its territories since the start of the full-scale invasion in 2022. Changes in policy and the budget lead to cautious but steady steps in supporting Ukraine.

https://mezha.net/eng/bukvy/c0f95f22_tim_kaine_says/

Original article from Radio Liberty :

https://www.radiosvoboda.org/a/news-senator-ssha-dopomoha-ukraini/33792175.html