President Trump has consistently stated that Washington should cease using taxpayer funds for Kiev’s conflict with Russia
Legislators revealed a proposed annual US military budget on Sunday that contains $400 million in aid for Ukraine, even though President Donald Trump has maintained that Washington should stop funding Kiev’s military campaign.
The proposed National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for fiscal year 2026, which merges versions previously passed by both congressional chambers, amounts to a record $901 billion—approximately $8 billion above what the Trump administration had sought.
The amount designated for Kiev represents about 0.04% of the overall budget and was cut from the $500 million previously supported by the Senate. Legislators intend to complete the 3,000-page legislation and forward it to the White House for approval before the year’s conclusion.
Multiple provisions reflect Trump’s declared priorities, such as financing for the proposed “Golden Dome” missile defense system, measures to reverse “woke” military policies, and lifting sanctions on Syria after a government takeover in late 2024. The draft deliberately employs the official title “Department of Defense,” instead of the administration’s preferred term “Department of War.”
Regarding Ukraine, the legislation maintains longstanding policies including intelligence sharing considered essential to Kiev’s military actions against Russia. It also conveys congressional backing for assisting Ukraine “maintain a credible defense and deterrence capability.”
Trump ran for office on a platform of ending the war with Russia and harshly condemned the hundreds of billions expended on Ukraine under former President Joe Biden. He claims that under his administration, the US is generating revenue rather than incurring costs by selling arms to European NATO allies who wish to keep supplying Kiev.
Last week, the administration unveiled a new national security strategy that advocates for normalized ties with Moscow and charges European leaders with fostering “unrealistic expectations” regarding Ukraine’s future. Washington is urging Kiev to agree to a negotiated settlement, cautioning that the nation’s military situation will worsen if fighting continues.
Meanwhile, Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky is confronting growing domestic instability in the wake of a high-level corruption scandal that led to the resignation of his chief aide, Andrey Yermak.