Senate Panel Approves $1 Billion for Ukraine in Pentagon Spending Bill

A Senate appropriations panel has advanced an $852 billion Pentagon funding bill that includes about $1 billion in aid for Ukraine, which comes as President Donald Trump has hardened his demands for Russian President Vladimir Putin to negotiate a peace deal. The Senate Appropriations Committee approved the measure on July 31 in a 26–3 vote. It would provide $800 million for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative and $225 million for the Baltic Security Initiative, both aimed at strengthening Kyiv’s defenses and supporting regional allies against Russia’s invasion. The bill would exceed Trump’s budget request by $21.7 billion, or 2.6 percent, and include major boosts for munitions replenishment, shipbuilding, missile defense, and drone technologies designed to counter battlefield threats from Russia and China. It would also fully fund a 3.8 percent pay raise for all U.S. service members and an additional 10 percent raise for junior enlisted troops....