Pelosi reaffirms US support for Ukraine 'until victory is won' after progressive lawmakers push for talks with Russia

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image for Pelosi reaffirms US support for Ukraine 'until victory is won' after progressive lawmakers push for talks with Russia

Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued an implicit rebuke of progressive lawmakers.

Pelosi reaffirmed US support for Ukraine after 30 lawmakers called for the US to hold direct talks with Russia.

The speaker said US support would remain "until victory is won."

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House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said on Tuesday that US support for Ukraine will continue 'until victory is won,' an implicit rebuke of progressive lawmakers who just a day earlier pushed the White House to talk with Russia.

"Under President Biden, our support for Ukraine – and our determination to defend democracy – is here to stay until victory is won. Slava Ukraini!" Pelosi said in a statement that also praised Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's "courageous and patriotic leadership."

The speaker's vow comes amid a series of conflicting messages from congressional leaders over long and how robust US support will be as Ukraine continues to repel Russia's invasion. House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy has implied that Republicans may curtail US support for Ukraine if they regain the majority in upcoming midterms.

The letter written by 30 House progressive lawmakers to President Joe Biden did not threaten future aid. But the lawmakers' urging of a "proactive diplomatic push" for talks with Russia caught many by surprise. Amid a torrent of criticism, Rep. Pramila Jayapal issued a new statement on Tuesday withdrawing the missive.

"The letter was drafted several months ago, but was unfortunately released by staff without vetting," Jayapal, who chairs the House Progressive Caucus said, adding that she "accepted responsibility for this."

Their original message released Monday contrasted with the administration's long-held view that Ukraine must be part of any discussions. "Nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine," as Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said.

The progressives' letter made clear that such a diplomatic push should be paired with military support the US has provided since the start of the war. In total, the US has sent more than $60 billion in military, humanitarian, and economic assistance.

Within hours of its publication, Jayapal released a statement clarifying it. Her Tuesday statement then abandoned any hopes of clarification in favor of a complete withdrawal.

In the new statement, Jayapal also stressed that the letter had nothing to do with McCarthy's recent comments that called into question future aid to Ukraine. The California Republican, who is in line to become the Speaker of the House if Republicans retake the chamber, sparked his own intra-party feud last week. He suggested that a Republican-led House would not issue a "blank check" for aid to Ukraine, particularly if the US economy struggles. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell then released his own statement making clear that aid to Ukraine would continue.

It is worth noting that US officials have talked with Russians since the war began. These interactions are rare though. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin called his Kremlin counterpart on Sunday.

Warglebargle2077 on October 25th, 2022 at 16:50 UTC »

Progressive Lawmakers signed a letter 4 months ago encouraging direct diplomacy if possible and then never released it. Circumstances changed over the last 4 months, and then some idiot released the letter without updating it or informing the signatories.

That’s very different from “Progressive Lawmakers Push For Talks With Russia.”

rawonionbreath on October 25th, 2022 at 16:31 UTC »

The caucus already appears to be retracting the letter. Some members weren’t even aware that was the draft that was being released. What an amateur hour shit show of an action.

CongratsUFoundMyAlt on October 25th, 2022 at 16:28 UTC »

I support Ukraine-Russia talks, so long as they begin and end with "get the fuck out of our country, every last inch, or we'll keep using your soldiers for fertilizer."