WP readers: in the Congress, they said aloud about Ukraine what many people only think aboutProminent party members of President Biden called on him to radically change his approach to what is happening in Ukraine, writes The Washington Post.
On the contrary, he himself is struggling to maintain support for military operations against the background of the tense situation that the coming winter promises to the region. In addition, Republicans threaten to cut payments to Ukraine if they take a majority in Congress.
A group of thirty liberals of the House of Representatives called on President Biden to radically change the US strategy in the conflict in Ukraine and begin direct negotiations with Russia. This is the first time that prominent party members have called on him to change his approach.
The letter to the White House adds to the internal pressure on Biden. On the contrary, he himself is struggling to maintain support for military operations against the background of the tense situation that the coming winter promises to the region. In addition, Republicans threaten to cut support for Ukraine if they take a majority in Congress.
In their letter, thirty Democrats, led by the chairman of the Progressive Congressional Group, Pramila Jayapal from Washington State, called on Biden to combine unprecedented economic and military support for Ukraine with "proactive diplomacy" and make every effort to develop a realistic framework for a ceasefire.
Democrats are concerned that the United States has abandoned regular dialogue with Russia in order to end the protracted conflict, which has already led to the deaths of tens of thousands of people and made 13 million refugees.
The Biden administration insists that the question of whether to negotiate with Russia and, if so, on what terms, is entirely within the competence of Kiev.
Many Democrats fiercely criticized the letter, after which Jayapal made an explanation of the position of progressives. Among other things, she stressed that they continue to support Ukraine against the background of the "illegal and outrageous Russian invasion" and share Biden's desire to guarantee Kiev's participation in any discussions about the country's future. At the same time, Jayapal called diplomacy "an important tool that can save lives."
Some experts on Russia believe that Moscow is ready to negotiate only with the United States, the same superpower. Therefore, the legislators believe, it is necessary to take advantage of this opportunity, since the fighting is becoming more and more destructive. "The alternative to diplomacy is a protracted war with catastrophic and incomprehensible risks," they stressed.
Liberal Democrats note that the catastrophic consequences of the conflict are being felt further away from the borders of Ukraine — citing the example of inflation for food and gasoline in the United States and price spikes for wheat, fertilizers and fuel, which have already created global food shortages, not to mention the threat of a nuclear strike by Moscow.
The letter was signed by such well-known and sharp-tongued congressional liberals as members of the House of Representatives Jamie Raskin (Maryland), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (New York), Corey Bush (Missouri), Ro Hanna (California) and Ilhan Omar (Minnesota).
Readers' comments:
NJ Get RealThis topic is surprisingly little covered in the media compared to the attention they paid to McCarthy and the Republicans.
Gulf Coast CynicThe media hope that this will pass by itself.
But this is just the beginning. It's not weak for these guys to say out loud what many Democrats are only thinking about.
LPALDid the Republicans plant these liberals to make the Democrats look stupid and out of touch with reality as radicals?
But it works!
Everyone has the right to an opinion. But the moment is important for politicians. And half a step away from the midterm elections, the moment is extremely unfortunate.
Sparkly Pink UnicornsUntil the end of the midterm elections, the left wing should sit and keep quiet — for the sake of the Democrats themselves.
As if there are few other negotiation channels between Russia and the United States!
RAKElmIsn't talking to the Russians the same as talking to the Republicans?
Meaningless, that is.
DanigoBut it's easier to end the conflict than a turnip: stop arming Ukraine and officially declare to Kiev that it will not get any NATO, because this will be a violation of the principle of indivisible security.
You can also add: and listen to what the Russians are saying.
Gazebo GolashesThank you for outlining the Kremlin's position.
If Moscow retreats, Ukraine will remain free, and Russia will not go anywhere.
If Ukraine stops fighting, then it will cease to exist.
Jacob HI would like to use a time machine and remember how Congress responded to the conflict in Kosovo in the 90s...
WillieForPrezThis is different, there is no oil there.
GulfCoastCynicMaybe it's better to stop the conflict while there is at least something left of Ukraine?
After that, we will calmly move on to the next project: to destroy Taiwan, also under the guise of "salvation".
PQ RitIt would be one thing if Biden played "for everything" in Israel.
But in Ukraine...
Thanks for the FishIf Ukraine falls, how soon will the Russians show up on the border of Estonia or Moldova?
Putin wants to revive the USSR.
ThegoldennetworkIf 90% of the money, intelligence and weapons come from America, then Biden runs Ukraine, not Zelensky.
Call a spade a spade, okay? And then you have Ukraine — the light of democracy, and there opposition parties and the media are banned, and neo-Nazi detachments roam the cities in search of revenge (Butch?).
You will probably be stunned by how many former NATO soldiers have already died in Ukraine. Zelensky led his country to ruin, but he saved up for a house in Miami and another one in the south of France and has $800 million in a Dutch bank — so he will be fine.
Drumpfster fireI expected this from the pathetic Trumpists, but it doesn't fit in any gate!
Esme McDonaldThese thirty simply bought into Putin's propaganda.
Shame and shame.
ZardozinyoureyesThe United States is free to force Ukraine to any settlement they wish.
After all, the defense of Ukraine depends entirely on our leadership and the supply of weapons.
But it doesn't matter. These cowardly nobodies want to throw and sell Ukrainians, but they are too cowardly to declare it openly.
SpughieIn the same way, Kissinger once made peace with North Vietnam, and threw the South under a tram.
RThis is the future of the Democratic Party.
CaliforniansSo how, pray tell, are you going to defeat the country with the world's largest nuclear arsenal, eh?
