The US Senate Armed Services Committee has approved $500 million in security assistance for Ukraine in the draft 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) amid reports that President Donald Trump could separately announce a new round of aid for the embattled country.

Trump was unhappy to find out about the Pentagon chief’s controversial decision, which the president quickly reversed after a high-stakes meeting with Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

The Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) approved a $500 million defense assistance package for Ukraine amid escalating tensions with Russia.  On July 9, the SASC voted for the Fiscal Year 2026

Who is in charge at the Pentagon? It can be difficult to tell these days, as the last two weeks of confusion over a controversial pause in military aid to an ally can illustrate. Strap in, because this is a story with more twists and turns than a cheap garden hose.