House Democrats urge Biden to negotiate with Putin

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Given that a peace settlement has no prayer unless Russia gets to keep much of the seized territory, along with Ukraine giving up ambitions to reclaim Crimea...
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Leftist support for Putin? "It's not just far-right conspiracy playing the sycophancy tune anymore."
https://dailycaller.com/2022/10/24/democ...ate-putin/

EXCERPTS: A group of 30 liberal politicians requested Monday that the Biden administration change its approach to supporting Ukraine by seeking negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The group, composed of Reps. Pramila Jayapal of Washington, Ilhan Omar of Wisconsin, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York and 27 other Democratic congressmembers [...] feel the “tens of billions of U.S. taxpayer dollars in military assistance” gives cause for the United States to “seriously explore all possible avenues” to avoid possible nuclear war.

“We urge you to make vigorous diplomatic efforts in support of a negotiated settlement and ceasefire, engage in direct talks with Russia [...] seek a rapid end to the conflict and reiterate this goal as America’s chief priority,” the group wrote.

The group referenced the economic benefits they predict will come from peaceful negotiations citing their belief that a ceasefire could result in lowered oil prices while also decreasing food scarcity across the world [...] The letter may find support on both sides of the aisle as many Republican lawmakers have previously criticized Biden’s spending in support of Ukraine... (MORE - details)
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Thus, translation of Red Rose Clique speak: "Be a good puppy and submit to GI tract treatment, Ukraine. Save the world."

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Progressive Democrats retract Biden Ukraine letter after furious debate
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022...sia-letter

EXCERPTS: The chair of the progressive caucus of the US House of Representatives, Pramila Jayapal, has retracted a letter sent by 30 of the members urging Joe Biden to engage in direct talks with Russia to end the war in Ukraine following a heated debate within the Democratic party about future strategy over the conflict.

In a statement issued on Tuesday afternoon, Jayapal made a dramatic U-turn, scrapping the letter that had been sent to the White House the previous day and implying it had all been a mistake. “The letter was drafted several months ago, but unfortunately was released by staff without vetting,” she said.

[...] Jayapal’s retraction is the latest twist in a strange 24 hours of Democratic politics, which has seen the progressive caucus apparently lend its name to a call for direct talks with Moscow to end the war in Ukraine, followed by a fierce backlash and then staged walking back of the position.

[...] Perhaps the most controversial aspect of the letter was the proposal that Biden should explore “incentives to end hostilities, including some form of sanctions relief” for Russia.

[...] With Ukraine stepping up its advance on Russian positions as a potentially punishing winter approaching, and with the US midterm elections looming on 8 November, the progressives’ letter could not have landed at a more sensitive time.

Russia specialists warned that the intervention could embolden Putin and loosen US commitment to lead the international coalition in support of Ukraine. Yoshiko Herrera, a political science professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, said, “The biggest problem in the letter is that it may weaken US support for Ukraine by fostering the appearance of divisions among those who support Ukraine.” (MORE - missing details)