According to her, the 2025 National Defense Budget Act (NDAA), approved by the Senate this year, contained a provision to extend the Lend-Lease Act to protect democracy in Ukraine, and the Ukrainian Embassy in the United States actively advocated for it.
“However, the bill approved by the House of Representatives did not contain such a provision. The corresponding provision was not included in the consolidated text of the bill,” the ambassador said.
However, according to her, the embassy continues to actively work to preserve this mechanism, which, in particular, is provided for in the bipartisan, bicameral bill “Stand with Ukraine Act.”
What is Lend-Lease
Lend-Leaseofficially introduced as the United States Defense Assistance Act, is a policy under which the United States supplies ammunition, equipment, food, strategic raw materials, including petroleum products, and materiel to its allies.
It is provided on the basis that such assistance is essential to the defense of the United States. This assistance includes warships and fighter aircraft, as well as other weapons.
The Lend-Lease Act has been passed twice in history – the first time it was signed on March 11, 1941 during World War II, and the second time for Ukraine after the Russian invasion on May 9, 2022.
Adoption of the 2025 defense budget by the US House of Representatives
The US House of Representatives passed the 2025 defense budget (NDAA). The corresponding decision was supported by 281 members of Congress, 140 legislators (16 Republicans and 124 Democrats) voted against.
In particular, as The Hill writes, the project provides $883.7 billion for US defense. In particular, the document provides for the allocation of funds for the creation of a special fund for Taiwan, similar to the initiative to help Ukraine.
The next step is approval of the NDAA by the US Senate, which is expected next week.
