Ukraine Support Act Heads Toward House Vote After Petition Reaches 218 Signatures

A bipartisan group of US House members secured 218 signatures on a discharge petition to force a floor vote on the Ukraine Support Act, bypassing GOP leadership. The bill would provide new aid and loans to Kyiv, affirm US support for Ukraine and NATO, and impose tougher sanctions on Russia. Make us preferred on Google Flip Share Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn Bluesky Email Copy Copied (FILES) The US Capitol is seen at dusk as the House meets to vote on a rules package for the 118th Congress, in Washington, DC, on January 9, 2023. (Photo by Mandel NGAN / AFP) Content Share Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn Bluesky Email Copy Copied Flip Make us preferred on Google A bipartisan coalition of US House members successfully secured the required 218 signatures on a discharge petition to force a floor vote on the Ukraine Support Act. Representative Kevin Kiley, a California lawmaker who recently switched his affiliation to independent, delivered the decisive 218th signature on Wednesday, activating a procedural clock to bring the measure up for consideration. Follow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official . Floor votes are tentatively planned by Democrats for the first week of June, though procedural rules could allow consideration as early as late May. The move bypasses Speaker Mike Johnson, who controls floor scheduling. The House Clerk’s discharge petition system allows a physical majority of representatives to force a measure onto the floor even without leadership approval. The petition, originally launched by Representative Gregory Meeks, the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, features 215 Democrats, two Republicans – Don Bacon of Nebraska and Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania – and one independent, Kiley. The Ukraine Support Act would provide more than $1 billion in assistance to Kyiv and authorize up to $8 billion in direct loans. It would also affirm US support for Ukraine and NATO, create a special coordinator for Ukraine reconstruction, and impose tougher sanctions and export controls on Russia. The sanctions would target Russia’s financial institutions, oil and mining sectors, and Russian officials, according to Reuters. Other Topics of Interest Ukraine, Lithuania Sign Drone Deal to Boost Defense Cooperation Ukraine and Lithuania have signed a defense agreement focused on drone technology, joint production, and military cooperation under the “Drone Deal” framework. The deal aims to strengthen security capabilities and expand collaboration between the two countries’ defense industries. The move comes as Kyiv seeks to deepen European partnerships and counter ongoing threats from Russia. The push comes as US aid to Ukraine has slowed during President Donald Trump’s second term and as some of his Republican allies in Congress have taken a cooler stance toward Kyiv. Even if the bill passes the House, its fate in the Senate remains uncertain. A separate Russia sanctions bill introduced by Republican Senator Lindsey Graham has stalled for months while Senate leaders wait for guidance from Trump. Kyiv Post is Ukraine’s first and oldest English news organization since 1995. Its international market reach of 97% outside of Ukraine makes it truly Ukraine’s Global – and most reliable – Voice.