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The Guardian - US
The Guardian - US
World
Ed Pilkington in New York

Progressive Democrats retract Biden Ukraine letter after furious debate

Pramila Jayapal, pictured here in December 2021 with other members of the progressive caucus, said: ‘The letter was drafted several months ago, but unfortunately was released by staff without vetting.’
Pramila Jayapal, pictured here in December 2021 with other members of the progressive caucus, said: ‘The letter was drafted several months ago, but unfortunately was released by staff without vetting.’ Photograph: Michael Reynolds/EPA

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.

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