US Senate Committee Approves Increase in Security Assistance to Ukraine to $750 Million

The US Senate Armed Services Committee, with a Republican majority, finalized its version of the annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The bill extends the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) through 2029 and increases its funding to $750 million, with funds directed to US companies for producing weapons for Ukrainian forces.

The overall Senate defense bill totals $1.15 trillion, covering procurement of ships, aircraft, and missile systems, military pay raises, and responses to geopolitical threats. It prohibits using funds for any activity that recognizes Russian sovereignty over internationally recognized Ukrainian territories. Additionally, it requires the Pentagon to provide intelligence support to Kyiv for defending and retaking those territories.

The defense bill now must pass both chambers of Congress, after which a compromise version will go to the White House for President Donald Trump's signature. This comes amid a sharp reduction in US aid to Ukraine since Trump returned to office in January 2025; his administration did not include Ukraine funding in its record defense budget proposal for 2027. Last week, on June 4, 2026, the House of Representatives passed a separate bill supporting Ukraine and imposing new tough sanctions on Russia, bypassing traditional procedures thanks to a group of Republicans opposing Trump's stance.