In the U.S. House of Representatives, for the first time in a long while, the process surrounding a new bill on aid to Ukraine has intensified. A discharge petition, which allows the document to be brought to a vote bypassing Speaker Mike Johnson, has gathered the necessary 218 signatures. Formally, this opens the way for consideration of the package in the coming weeks; however, the main problem remains the position of U.S. President Donald Trump, who is likely to veto it even if the document passes through Congress, UNN reports.
What is this bill?
The document was initiated by Democrat Gregory Meeks, who introduced it back in April 2025. The bill provides for large-scale support for Ukraine and U.S. allies in Europe.
The document includes:
– up to $8 billion in aid to Ukraine in the form of loans;
– $1.3 billion in direct security assistance;
– new sanctions against Russia and entities supporting its military aggression;
– replenishment of American weapons stockpiles;
– support for the post-war reconstruction of Ukraine;
– assistance to the Baltic states and the strengthening of NATO;
– restoration of lend-lease mechanisms.
Despite this, the Republican leadership in the House of Representatives effectively blocked the document for over a year and did not bring it up for consideration.
What is a discharge petition and why is it important?
In July 2025, supporters of aid to Ukraine launched a so-called discharge petition—a special procedure that allows bypassing the Speaker of the House and forcing a bill to a vote. To do this, it was necessary to collect an absolute majority of House votes—218 out of 435.
For several months, the petition was just one signature short. Ultimately, the decisive vote came from Kevin Kiley—a congressman from California who recently left the Republican Party and became an independent representative.
Prior to this, the petition was supported by:
– all Democrats;
– two Republicans—Don Bacon and Brian Fitzpatrick, who are considered among the most pro-Ukrainian representatives of the Republican Party.
What happens next?
After gathering the necessary signatures, the House of Representatives will be forced to bring the bill to a vote. According to Politico, this could happen as early as the first week of June.
In the House of Representatives, the document theoretically has a chance of passing, as Democrats along with a portion of moderate Republicans can secure a majority. Next, the bill must pass the U.S. Senate, where the situation also does not look hopeless for Ukraine's supporters.
However, the main problem is Donald Trump's position.
Despite the presence of bipartisan support for Ukraine in Congress, the current U.S. President remains critically disposed toward new aid packages for Kyiv. That is why, even if the document is passed by Congress, Trump is likely to exercise his veto power.
To override a presidential veto, two-thirds of the votes in both the House of Representatives and the Senate are required, and currently, the bill's supporters do not have such numbers.
Why this is still important for Ukraine
Despite the low chances of it quickly coming into force, the very emergence of 218 votes carries great political significance. Firstly, it demonstrates that support for Ukraine in the U.S. remains bipartisan, even despite the change in administration and Trump's hardline stance.
Secondly, it dealt a serious blow to Speaker Mike Johnson, who is trying to maintain control over the Republican majority in the House. Thirdly, the document effectively launches a new stage in the struggle for American aid to Ukraine ahead of the Congressional elections.
If Democrats are able to strengthen their positions in the Senate or the House of Representatives after the November elections, the possibility of passing such a package will become much more realistic. Furthermore, even the current situation demonstrates that a strong lobby in support of Ukraine persists within the American political establishment, and a complete cutoff of aid to Kyiv does not have consensus support even among Republicans.