<div style="text-align: justify; "><span style="font-size: 1rem;"><b>A group of left-wing Democrats in the US Congress has withdrawn a letter that called for a negotiated settlement to the war in Ukraine.</b></span><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Progressive Caucus said the message was being misconstrued as aligned with a growing reluctance in the Republican party to keep sending aid to Kyiv.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Chairwoman Pramila Jayapal said it was drafted "months ago" and that staff released it without it being "vetted".</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">The memo sparked intra-party backlash before US midterm elections next month.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The letter to the White House was made public on Monday and was signed in June by 30 of President Joe Biden's fellow Democrats in the House of Representatives.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Its call for the US to negotiate directly with Russia was seen as undermining the Biden administration, which has repeatedly said Moscow is not interested in diplomacy.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">White House officials said in response that diplomacy is only possible when all sides are prepared to negotiate, and that is not currently the case.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Massachusetts Democratic congressman Jake Auchincloss denounced the letter as "an olive branch to a war criminal who's losing his war", in reference to Russian President Vladimir Putin.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Another Progressive Caucus member, Ruben Gallego, responded: "Russia doesn't acknowledge diplomacy, only strength.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">"If we want Ukraine to continue as a free and democratic country that it is, we must support their fight."</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Ms Jayapal, a Washington state congresswoman, said on Tuesday that she still supported an end to the war "with diplomacy".</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">She said the timing of the letter's release meant it had "been conflated with [Republican] opposition".</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Ms Jayapal continued: "It is a distraction at this time."</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">She accused Republicans of planning to withdraw financial and military support for Ukraine if they win a majority in Congress next month.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Republican congressman Kevin McCarthy warned earlier this month that if his party takes power in November there will be no "blank cheque" for Ukraine.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Other signatories to the letter included New York congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a leading figure in the party's socialist wing, and Maryland congressman Jamie Raskin, who has taken a lead role in the Democrats' efforts to investigate former President Donald Trump.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Mr Raskin disavowed the letter on Tuesday in a statement condemning Russia as "a world centre of antifeminist, antigay, anti-trans hatred". He praised the Ukrainian armed forces for recruiting women and "sexual minorities".</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Ms Ocasio-Cortez has faced pressure over Ukraine at recent public appearances.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">One heckler at a town hall-style event accused her of voting for nuclear war with Russia and China, shouting: "Why are you playing with the lives of American citizens?" BBC</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">bnbd24/kh</div>