Rep Pramilya Jayapal (D- WA) signed a letter along with 29 other far-left progressive Democrats urging Joe Biden to seek a negotiated settlement with Russia to end the Ukraine war. The reaction from other Democrats came quickly and the criticism was strongly against Jayapal’s move. Jayapal is the chair of the House Progressive Caucus.

The letter suggests that the United States explore security arrangements agreeable to both Ukraine and Russia.

In a letter, 30 House members from Biden’s Democratic Party made clear they opposed Russia’s “outrageous and illegal invasion of Ukraine” and agreed with the White House that a settlement was up to Kyiv.

“But as legislators responsible for the expenditure of tens of billions of US taxpayer dollars in military assistance in the conflict, we believe such involvement in this war also creates a responsibility for the United States to seriously explore all possible avenues,” said the lawmakers led by Representative Pramila Jayapal, leader of the House Progressive Caucus.

“Such a framework would presumably include incentives to end hostilities, including some form of sanctions relief, and bring together the international community to establish security guarantees for a free and independent Ukraine that are acceptable for all parties, particularly Ukrainians,” they wrote.

“The alternative to diplomacy is protracted war, with both its attendant certainties and catastrophic and unknowable risks.”

The State Department’s comment on the letter notes that there has been no indication that Russia is open to diplomatic efforts to end Putin’s invasion into Ukraine. And the White House press secretary chimed in.

Asked about the letter, State Department spokesman Ned Price said, “Nobody wants to see this war ended more than our Ukrainian counterparts.”

“We don’t know when it will transpire, principally and solely because we have not seen any indication from the Russians that they are prepared to engage in that diplomacy and dialogue,” he told reporters.

“We have been providing our Ukrainian partners with what they need on the battlefield so that when a negotiating table emerges, they will be in the strongest possible position,” Price said.

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said separately: “We’ve been very clear: nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine.”

As Punchbowl reports today, the letter urges Biden to “pair the military and economic support the United States has provided to Ukraine with a proactive diplomatic push, redoubling efforts to seek a realistic framework for a ceasefire.” The caucus supports Biden’s position that it is not America’s place to pressure Ukraine regarding sovereign decision.

The backlash was swift from other progressives. Some correctly warned that the letter undermine U.S. support for Ukraine. Some progressives were concerned about the timing of the letter, as House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy said last week that when Republicans take back the majority in the House, he won’t approve “a free blank check” for the White House on Ukraine. Democrats, including Biden, quickly pushed back on McCarthy’s comments. Progressives said it made them look like they were siding with McCarthy and other conservatives on cutting back on aid to Ukraine.

“I’m really at a loss why this happened,” one progressive Democrat said to us late Monday night.

Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Wis.), the former chair of the CPC, said Monday evening he has “no idea” why the letter went out now since it was written in July. Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.), who was on the original letter, issued a statement “regarding my continued support for President Biden’s policies on Ukraine.”

Rep. Jake Auchincloss (D-Mass.), a former Marine, slammed the progressives, calling their letter “an olive branch to a war criminal who’s losing his war.”

“Ukraine is on the march. Congress should be standing firmly behind @JoeBidens effective strategy, including tighter – not weaker! – sanctions.”

I do love some blue on blue discord just two weeks out from the mid-term elections.

Jayapal didn’t take much time in backtracking. “As we also made explicitly clear in our letter and will continue to make clear, we support President Biden and his administration’s commitment to nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine.”

Statement from @RepJayapal reaffirming support for Ukraine and clarifying the position of a letter to President Biden ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/ddcoyHu94H

— Progressive Caucus (@USProgressives) October 24, 2022

As Punchbowl points out, this is a big blunder by Jayapal. She is said to be gearing up to make a bid for a leadership role among House Democrats in a post-Pelosi world. This kind of misstep can nix her chances for a big role.

The letter also serves to remind the Biden administration that both Republicans and Democrats are voicing concerns about unlimited support for Ukraine. Debates on continued financial support during the lame duck session will be important as the war enters a bloodier phase.

Oddly enough, the letter signed by the progressives was a four-month old document that had been updated. Why do this now? A Jayapal aide wouldn’t comment on the process of approving the letter.