No U.S. Weapons to Ukraine Under Lend-Lease Program

The U.S. House of Representatives passed a $895 billion defense budget, but it did not include an extension of the lend-lease act for Ukraine.

Ukrainian Ambassador to the U.S., Oksana Markarova, confirmed in a Facebook post on December 12 that the lend-lease extension was omitted, despite extensive lobbying efforts by Ukrainian diplomats.

The Ukraine Democracy Defense Lend-Lease Act, passed in May 2022, expired in September 2023 without being used. Ukrainian officials have been actively advocating for its reintroduction, as the act would allow the U.S. president to send arms to Ukraine more efficiently, bypassing congressional delays and ensuring a more streamlined support process.

The Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) is a Pentagon-led program for supplying arms to Ukraine through contracts with U.S. defense companies. The House bill did not include additional funds for USAI in 2025, as $300 million had already been allocated in the previous budget.

However, the defense bill did include provisions to prevent the recognition of Russian occupation in Ukraine and included proposals for the development of AI-based weapons in cooperation with international partners, including Ukraine.

With the Republican Party gaining control of the House and Senate, support for Ukraine faces growing challenges. Opposition within the party has already delayed significant aid packages, such as the $61 billion aid bill and a proposed $24 billion package for Ukraine. These delays have raised concerns about the future of U.S. support, especially as President-elect Donald Trump has hinted at reduced assistance following his inauguration in January 2025.