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US Senate Approves $500M Ukraine Aid in Fiscal Year 2026 Defense Bill
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![Photo of Dariia Mykhailenko]( "Photo of Dariia Mykhailenko")
The US Senate Armed Services Committee has greenlit $500 million in security assistance for Ukraine as part of its draft National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2026, according to Reuters on July 11.
The bill, approved on July 9 with a 26–1 vote, aims to extend and expand the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) through 2028, increasing the funding ceiling from $300 million in FY2025 to $500 million.
The USAI continues to serve as a key mechanism for strengthening Ukraine’s defense capabilities against Russia’s full-scale invasion, which began in 2022.
The legislation also blocks a controversial proposal from President Donald Trump’s June budget request to retire the US Air Force’s A-10 aircraft fleet. The Senate version mandates that no fewer than 103 A-10s remain in service during FY2026 to preserve the Air Force’s ability to provide close air support.
The NDAA outlines a total national defense budget of $925 billion, including $878.7 billion for the Department of Defense and $35.2 billion for the Department of Energy. It also includes up to $6 billion in general transfer authority to allow for rapid reallocation of funds to meet emerging priorities.
Beyond Ukraine, the bill addresses a range of global security threats, including those posed by China, Iran, and North Korea. It emphasizes the need for continued technological superiority in areas such as artificial intelligence, unmanned systems, and hypersonic weapons—critical to maintaining the United States’ strategic edge.
The House of Representatives, in its own version of the NDAA, has retained security aid for Ukraine at $300 million. The final text will be negotiated in the coming months.
Earlier, it was reported that US Special Envoy Kellogg will travel to Ukraine to discuss military aid—a sign of continued high-level engagement in support of Kyiv’s defense efforts.
