WASHINGTON – Radical Democrats in the House of Representatives on Tuesday withdrew their call for President Biden to engage in direct diplomatic talks with Russia to seek a ceasefire in Ukraine, a move The notable pullback took place less than 24 hours after their enactment.
In one Letters On Monday, the congressional caucus on Progress called on the Biden administration to “seek a realistic framework for a ceasefire” and “pursue all diplomatic avenues to support such a resolution.” acceptable to the Ukrainian people.”
The election, which came two weeks before the midterm congressional elections, quickly sparked a backlash among other Democrats, who accused the 30 lawmakers who signed on to it of undermining. weak support for Kyiv at a critical time in the fight against Russian aggression.
“This letter is an olive branch to a losing war criminal,” said Representative Jake Auchincloss, Democrat of Massachusetts and a former Marine, wrote on Twitter. “Ukraine is marching. Congress should stand behind @JoeBidens’ effective strategy of tighter inclusion – not weaker! – sanctions. “
Representative Pramila Jayapal of Washington, president of the radical caucus, who led the letter, blames unnamed assistants for releasing it, saying it was drafted a few months ago, “but was unfortunately released by staff without checking.”
“Due to the timing, our message is being perceived by some as tantamount to a recent statement by Republican Leader McCarthy threatening to end aid to Ukraine if the Republicans take over,” she said. “.
In a recent interview, Mr. McCarthy, who is well-suited to be the speaker if his party wins control of the House in next month’s election, said Republicans would do not want to “write blank checks” for Ukrainesuggested that they would question future funding requests for the war.
“The closeness of these statements creates the unfortunate appearance that the Democrats, who have strongly and unanimously supported and voted for every package of military, strategic and economic assistance to the Ukrainians, somehow affiliated with Republicans, who are trying to pull the Americans. support for President Zelensky and Ukrainian forces,” Ms. Jayapal said on Tuesday.
The withdrawal of the petition – a highly unusual move for members of Congress – comes after progressive lawmakers faced a wave of fierce criticism from their Democratic colleagues, who accused them of deceiving President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia and creating a fractured American front with the rest of the world.
In the last year, when Congress passed more than $60 billion for Ukraine, there was little opposition or criticism from lawmakers on either side. Backlash on Monday night – from the streams biting message took to Twitter to protest calls from donors – suggesting that support can be maintained, but also pointing to growing anxiety among some lawmakers about the scope, cost and the consequences of America’s entry into the war.
Representative Ro Khanna, the California Democrat who signed the letter, said in an interview Tuesday that he voted to arm Ukraine in the face of Mr. will continue to do so. But he added: “History shows that silent debate in Congress on issues of war and peace never ends well.”
