In a rare defiance of House leadership and the White House, the US House of Representatives passed the Ukraine Support Act on Thursday evening, approving new assistance for Kyiv and fresh sanctions on key sectors of Russia’s economy. The 226-195 vote marked the first standalone Ukraine aid package to pass either chamber of Congress during President Donald Trump’s second term, and a striking signal that a bipartisan group of lawmakers is unwilling to let support for Ukraine disappear from Washington’s agenda.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. The bill, authored by Rep. Gregory Meeks, a New York Democrat, would provide more than $1 billion in security and reconstruction assistance for Ukraine and make another $8 billion available through defense loans. It would also impose new sanctions targeting parts of Russia’s economy, including financial, oil and mining sectors. A break in party lines The measure passed with support from 207 Democrats, 18 Republicans and one independent, while most Republicans voted against it. Supporters forced the bill to the floor through a discharge petition, a rarely successful procedural tool that allows lawmakers to bypass party leadership if they gather 218 signatures. The move circumvented objections from Republican leaders, who argued that the bill could complicate negotiations over Russia sanctions and Ukraine policy. For Ukraine’s supporters in Congress, however, the vote was a message that Kyiv should not be left to face Russia’s invasion with uncertain American backing.