Representative Joe Wilson, a Republican from South Carolina, has introduced a proposal to reauthorize a lend-lease agreement aimed at providing Ukraine with weapons to counter Russian President Vladimir Putin, whom he has labeled a "war criminal."
In 2022, Congress passed the Ukraine Democracy Defense Lend-Lease Act to streamline the delivery of military supplies to Ukraine to assist in its fight against Russia. However, the legislation expired in September 2023 without being utilized.
The new proposal mirrors the World War II-era Lend-Lease Act, in which equipment is supplied without cost, with the expectation that it will either be returned or destroyed. Amid ongoing debates over U.S. support for Ukraine, a renewed lend-lease arrangement could supply Ukraine with weapons without directly using American taxpayer dollars.
On Monday, Wilson announced on X (formerly Twitter) his intention to introduce the first lend-lease bill that would grant President Donald Trump the authority to send arms to Ukraine for its defense against Russia.
While the $895 billion defense bill Congress passed in December did not include an extension for the Ukraine lend-lease program, Ukrainian diplomats have been advocating for its reinstatement. This would allow the U.S. president to send weapons to Ukraine without the delays often associated with Congress.
Wilson, who chairs both the U.S. Helsinki Commission and the National Security and Foreign Affairs Task Force, emphasized that his Freedom First Lend-Lease Act would provide President Trump with the flexibility to send "war-winning" weapons to U.S. allies, including Ukraine. He believes this approach could pressure Russia to engage in negotiations through American strength.
According to Keith Kellogg, Trump's special envoy for Ukraine and Russia, the U.S. is still supplying weapons to Ukraine under agreements made by former President Joe Biden. However, as discussions around U.S. military aid continue, the Trump administration is reportedly considering urging European allies to purchase American weapons to further arm Ukraine.
In a statement to *Newsweek*, Ukrainian human rights lawyer Oleksandra Matviichuk, who leads the Center for Civil Liberties in Kyiv, expressed gratitude for the ongoing support from U.S. congressional leaders. She emphasized that they understand the crucial role Ukraine plays in defending democracy and global safety.
Wilson, in a statement, said: "Today, I will introduce the FREEDOM FIRST LEND-LEASE ACT to give President Trump flexible authorities to send war-winning weapons to our partners including Ukraine to deter War Criminal Putin as Biden should have done long ago. Bring Russia to the table through American Strength!"
Matviichuk also told *Newsweek* that she had been moved by the unwavering solidarity from American lawmakers, acknowledging that they grasp the importance of Ukraine’s fight for freedom.
The specifics of the bill, including its level of congressional support, remain unclear, as does whether the U.S. will ask European countries to purchase American arms via commercial contracts or through the American stockpile. Sources have indicated that Kellogg is expected to address these issues at the Munich Security Conference, which begins on Friday, as the Trump administration seeks to continue assisting Ukraine while managing costs.
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