Progressive Democrats urge Biden to shift strategy and engage with Russia

Pramila Jayapal was among the signatories of the letter, which called on Joe Biden to consider direct engagement with Russia to end the Ukraine war. Photograph: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

A group of US congressional Democrats have urged president Joe Biden to pursue direct engagement with Russia to end the war in Ukraine, while still maintaining current military and economic commitments to Kyiv.

“Given the destruction created by this war for Ukraine and the world, as well as the risk of catastrophic escalation, we … believe it is in the interests of Ukraine, the United States, and the world to avoid a prolonged conflict,” the 30 Democratic members write in the letter to Biden.