How Progressive Democrats Are Playing Into Putin's Hands

Progressive House Democrats' letter urging President Joe Biden to engage directly with the Kremlin to achieve a ceasefire in Ukraine sowed division within the party and played into Vladimir Putin's hands, two scholars told Newsweek.

On Tuesday, Representative Pramila Jayapal, chairwoman of the caucus and the letter's principal author, retracted the letter and said that it had been drafted months before it was published "but unfortunately was released by staff without vetting," admitting bad timing.

"Because of the timing, our message is being conflated by some as being equivalent to the recent statement by Republican Leader [Kevin] McCarthy threatening an end to aid to Ukraine if Republicans take over," she wrote.

"The proximity of these statements created the unfortunate appearance that Democrats, who have strongly and unanimously supported and voted for every package of military, strategic, and economic assistance to the Ukrainian people, are somehow aligned with Republicans who seek to pull the plug on American support for President Zelensky and the Ukrainian forces."

Jayapal stressed that the letter, signed by 30 lawmakers, had no intention of calling off or reducing military aid to Ukraine.

"Every war ends with diplomacy, and this one will too after Ukrainian victory. The letter sent yesterday, although restating that basic principle, has been conflated with GOP opposition to support for the Ukrainians' just defense of their national sovereignty. As such, it is a distraction at this time and we withdraw the letter," she wrote.

The backlash generated by the letter, published on Monday, is the first sign of disagreement among Democrats in Congress over the war in Ukraine and Washington's role as Kyiv's key supporter. For many, the letter was seen as undermining the Biden administration's support for Ukraine and sowing divisions within the Democratic party just two weeks before the November midterms.

"This request does indeed show divisions," Dr. Marina Miron from the Defence Studies Department of King's College London, told Newsweek.

"Divisions existed from the very beginning, most notably amongst European leaders and their U.K. and U.S. counterparts, but now we see internal divisions within the biggest donor country," she said. "And these divisions will most likely be exploited by Russia's information warfare, disinformation campaigns and propaganda to draw a great wedge between the two camps and to antagonize supporters of each camp."

Since the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Congress has approved more than $60 billion in aid to Kyiv.

Miron is concerned that any hesitation within the U.S. towards helping Ukraine, due to the country refocusing on fighting inflation at home, might influence European politicians and their decision-making "as they, too, would be hard hit should the U.S. decrease its help, knowing that they are at the very edge now and would not be able to shoulder the burden."

Any backtracking from the U.S. would also risk igniting those political voices within Europe who were always against helping Ukraine.

"So, for the allies these divisions in the U.S. might have serious ramifications which Russia will try to amplify in the information spectrum, possibly inciting domestic unrest—something the European politicians are aware of and are preparing for," said Miron.

"Should that happen on a large scale, it remains to be seen what will be on the top of their political agendas. Ukraine will most likely move down the priority ladder."

Kenton White, a lecturer in Strategic Studies and International Relations at the University of Reading, told Newsweek that the letter directly undermines Biden's stated aim of supporting the Ukrainian resistance.

"This sort of 'appeal' will appear to some nations not directly involved in the war as division within those nations supporting Ukraine. Nations such as China will make propaganda use of such events. Antony Blinken, Secretary of State, said previously that the U.S. will stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes," he said.

"The contradiction between the Administration's position and this letter will not be missed by many nations who are willing to either remain on the sidelines, or actively support Russia."