Mike Johnson

A bipartisan effort to force a House vote on new U.S. security aid for Ukraine reached the 218 signatures needed Wednesday, dealing another setback to Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., as lawmakers moved to bypass Republican leadership.

According to the legislation introduced by Rep. Gregory Meeks, D-N.Y., the ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, the measure would provide $1.3 billion in security assistance to Ukraine and up to $8 billion more through direct loans, reports The New York Times.

The bill also would replenish U.S. weapons stockpiles, support postwar reconstruction financing, and impose additional sanctions on Russia and its allies.

Rep. Kevin Kiley, an independent from California who caucuses with Republicans, signed the discharge petition on Wednesday, giving supporters the final signature needed to trigger a floor vote process.

Under House rules, the petition now starts a timetable that could force Republican leaders to bring the measure to the floor by the end of May.

"Recent Ukrainian gains have created an opportunity for peace, but the collapse of the recent ceasefire shows that leverage is needed for diplomacy to succeed," Kiley said Wednesday. "Congress can act now, in a bipartisan way, to strengthen that leverage and advance a durable peace that protects the interests of the United States and our allies."

The petition was signed by every House Democrat along with Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., and Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa. Republicans hold only a narrow House majority, allowing the coalition to reach the threshold needed to bypass leadership objections.

The measure faces long odds in the Republican-controlled House and opposition from President Donald Trump, who has questioned continued U.S. involvement in the war.

Still, the successful petition highlighted ongoing divisions within the Republican conference and growing frustration among rank-and-file lawmakers over leadership control of the House agenda.

Discharge petitions are among the most difficult procedural tools in the House because they require support from a majority of all members.

The tactic has become more common during Johnson's tenure as speaker amid repeated disputes between moderate and conservative Republicans.

The push comes as U.S. policy toward Ukraine remains unsettled. Trump has pressed for a negotiated settlement between Ukraine and Russia while increasing criticism in recent weeks of Russian President Vladimir Putin after ceasefire talks stalled and attacks escalated.

"Every day this administration hesitates to apply real pressure on Russia and fails to support Ukraine is another day Ukrainian soldiers don't get the tools they need," Meeks said when introducing the petition last year.

He accused Putin of continuing to "dodge, delay, and deflect" diplomatic efforts.