June 5, 2026, 7:20 amJune 5, 2026, 7:20 am
The US House of Representatives has approved a comprehensive package of aid to Ukraine and sanctions against Russia and at the same time made a clear commitment to the NATO alliance. The House chamber voted majority in favor of the bill with the help of nearly 20 votes from President Donald Trump’s Republicans. There were 226 yes votes and 195 no votes. This increases the pressure on Trump, who recently expressed himself extremely critically about NATO and did not clearly side with the attacked country in the Ukraine war started by Russia in 2022.
Headwind for Donald Trump: Republicans also voted for aid to Ukraine.Image: keystone
The law, which was introduced by the Democrats, still has to be approved by the other chamber of parliament, the Senate. It will then be presented to Trump for his signature, who could veto it. The vote that has now taken place puts the Republican in a delicate position because, in case of doubt, he would have to go against numerous party colleagues. Recently, Republicans have repeatedly openly opposed the political course in the White House – a few months before the midterm elections in Congress, in which the president’s party wants to defend its wafer-thin majority in both chambers.
Russia urged to withdraw from Ukraine
The law states that the United States strongly condemns Russian war crimes. Russia must immediately and unconditionally withdraw all military forces from Ukrainian territory, including Crimea and the Donetsk and Luhansk regions in the southeast of the country, known as Donbass. Any negotiations would also have to be based on Ukraine’s sovereignty and not be dictated by Russia.
The law provides for a wide range of possible sanctions – against Russian banks, the energy sector and also high-ranking politicians such as President Vladimir Putin. Loans for military financing are also to be made available to Ukraine.
House of Representatives: NATO is a bulwark
The MPs expressly support NATO as a defense alliance and specifically Article 5 of the NATO Treaty. This regulates that the alliance partners can count on the support of the allies in the event of an attack and an attack on one member is considered an attack on all. The US commitment to Article 5 strengthens NATO’s deterrence as a bulwark against adversaries such as Russia, China and Iran who want to expand their harmful influence, according to the text of the law.
Most recently there had been particularly critical tones towards NATO from the White House. Trump had accused Germany and other NATO countries of not helping to secure the Strait of Hormuz in the Iran war. It will be remembered and “never forgotten,” Trump threatened. (dab/sda/dpa)