Republicans in the US House of Representatives joined Democrats on Thursday to approve a bill providing military and reconstruction support for Ukraine, marking another public break with President Donald Trump by members of his own party.
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The Ukraine Support Act passed by a vote of 226 to 195 after 18 Republicans crossed party lines to support the measure. The legislation would allocate more than $1 billion in aid for Ukraine and authorize a further $8 billion in financing loans to support the country's defence efforts.
Despite clearing the House, the bill faces long odds of becoming law. It must still be approved by the Senate and signed by Trump, who has not indicated support for the measure.
Republicans Defy Party Leadership
The vote was made possible after Republican supporters joined Democrats in signing a discharge petition, a procedural move that allowed lawmakers to bypass House leadership and force the legislation onto the floor for consideration.
The outcome highlights growing divisions within the Republican Party over foreign policy and the administration's approach to international conflicts.
It follows another rare display of dissent earlier this week, when four House Republicans joined Democrats to pass a largely symbolic resolution aimed at preventing Trump from taking further military action in Iran.
Pressure Builds Over Iran Policy
Although the White House dismissed that resolution as an unconstitutional attempt to limit presidential authority, its passage added to pressure on the administration as the conflict with Iran continues.
The administration has also retreated from plans to establish an “anti-weaponisation” fund after criticism from both Democrats and some Republicans.
Republican lawmakers had warned they could block a key immigration bill if the administration proceeded with plans that would have directed public funds to Trump supporters, creating another source of tension within the president's party.
Zelensky Seeks Direct Talks With Putin
The House vote came as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky renewed efforts to revive peace negotiations with Russia.
In an open letter addressed to Russian President Vladimir Putin, Zelensky called for a face-to-face meeting between the two leaders, arguing that direct engagement offered the best chance of ending the war.
He said it would be a mistake to wait until the conflict once again becomes a primary focus of US attention and urged a full ceasefire during any future negotiations.
Putin rejected the idea of a ceasefire earlier on Thursday.
Trump later said he believed a meeting between the Russian and Ukrainian leaders would be beneficial.
Peace Efforts Remain Stalled
Attempts to negotiate an end to the war have made little progress in recent months. Previous rounds of talks held in Geneva, Abu Dhabi and Istanbul have failed to produce a breakthrough.
Zelensky's appeal coincided with Putin's attendance at a major economic forum in Saint Petersburg.
The letter also referenced a Ukrainian drone strike on the outskirts of the city a day earlier. Meanwhile, Russian-installed authorities in Crimea accused Ukraine of attacks that killed four people in Simferopol. Ukraine said it had targeted a fuel depot.
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Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 5 June 2026
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