US Senate approves defence budget for 2026 with US$500 million allocated for Ukraine

The US Senate has approved a bipartisan US$925 billion defence budget for 2026, which includes US$500 million for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative. The bill passed with 77 votes in favour and 20 against.

Source: The New York Times, as reported by European Pravda

Details: The vote has set up difficult negotiations with the House of Representatives, which has already passed its own version of the bill containing a number of conservative provisions avoided by the Senate.

The document covers all defence-related expenditures, from the construction of new submarines to pay rises for military personnel and amendments to procurement procedures.

Among other issues, the bill seeks to extend the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative until 2028 and increase the agreed funding to US$500 million.

It will also authorise dozens more advanced F-35A fighter jets, as well as expand a programme to rapidly develop, test, and mass-produce UAVs, and research ways to safely integrate emerging technologies, such as AI.

Background:

• On 11 September, the US House of Representatives passed a defence policy bill worth US$892.6 billion, which also allocates US$400 million for a Pentagon initiative to support Ukraine's security.
• Lawmakers also added a requirement for the Pentagon to report to Congress if the administration plans to cancel or suspend military assistance to Ukraine authorised by Congress. This appears to be an effort to restore oversight after the Department of Defense decided in the summer to pause aid shipments to Ukraine without notifying lawmakers.

Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!