In a move that could shift the trajectory of U.S. policy toward Russia and Ukraine, Rep. Kevin Kiley of California has signed a discharge petition to compel a House floor vote on the Ukraine Support Act. The legislation, introduced by Rep. Gregory Meeks of New York, would impose stricter sanctions on Russia, authorize up to $8 billion in Foreign Military Financing loans for Ukraine, and reaffirm American backing for both Ukraine and NATO.
The discharge petition, a procedural tool that bypasses leadership to force a vote when a majority of members support it, now sets the stage for a bipartisan showdown. Kiley, who left the Republican Party to become an Independent, added his signature to the effort, signaling a break from President Trump’s resistance to additional aid for Ukraine amid its ongoing war with Russia.
Russia’s recent escalation—including a brutal air assault on Ukraine after a temporary cease-fire and its alignment with Iran in the Middle East—has galvanized congressional action. Supporters argue that Moscow’s aggression, including the abduction of Ukrainian children, demands a robust response from Washington. “The evidence is clear: Russia is waging an illegal war and committing war crimes,” said one aide familiar with the petition.
Beyond Meeks’ bill, the discharge petition could unlock a cascade of related legislation. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, co-chair of the Congressional Ukraine Caucus, has signaled he will file his own discharge petition for the Peace through Strength against Russia Act, which includes targeted sanctions. Unlike Meeks’ bill, Fitzpatrick’s approach allows amendments, opening the door for additional measures like the Preventing the Escalation of Armed Conflict in Europe (PEACE) Act.
The PEACE Act, approved by the House Financial Services Committee last July by a 53-1 vote, would accelerate the seizure and transfer of frozen Russian sovereign assets to Ukraine. Estimates of Russian funds immobilized in the United States range from $19 billion to over $50 billion, part of a global total of roughly $300 billion. The bill would also let Ukraine use those assets to purchase U.S.-made defense equipment, a provision that could bolster Kyiv’s military capabilities without direct taxpayer cost.
Lawmakers are also eyeing amendments to mandate—rather than allow—the president to seize Russian assets, and to require Ukraine to spend those funds on American arms. Other pending bills, such as the Decreasing Russian Oil Profits Act and a resolution condemning Vladimir Putin’s abduction of Ukrainian children, could be folded into a comprehensive package. “This is a chance to make Russia pay without costing U.S. taxpayers a dime,” said a senior House aide.
The push comes as Ukraine faces renewed Russian assaults, including a recent massive aerial barrage that killed 18 people in Kyiv and Dnipro, trapping children under rubble. Meanwhile, Ukraine’s drone strategy is forcing Putin to rethink his war plans, as Russia shows signs of weakening.
With a veto-proof majority possible in both chambers, the legislation could override any White House objections. “The question is not whether we should act, but when,” said Gregory P. Wilson, a former deputy assistant secretary of the Treasury. “Thanks to one courageous signature, Congress has a unique opportunity to send a strong signal to our adversaries and allies alike.”
