Sheila Jackson Lee: “Earlier today during the debate dealing with removing the normal trade relations from Russia and Belarus, I indicated…”

“Earlier today during the debate dealing with removing the normal trade relations from Russia and Belarus, I indicated that ``slaughter'' is too nice a word to describe the actions of Vladimir Putin against the innocent people of Ukraine. I insist on that definition. One Member rose and said it was genocide. Certainly, it is near that devastating and deadly system that we have seen used elsewhere. As Russian soldiers come home in body bags and as Russian mothers begin to mourn, I make this plea to the Russian people: This is an illegal war. Putin is a war criminal. We can only now count on you. The Western world has done every single thing that they can do to stop the pillage, the violence, the killing of pregnant women, the slaughtering of babies in the street. It is time now for the Russian people to unleash the shackles around your mind and your hands, to be able to stand up and say to Putin--who is now leading your country into an end that you will never, never, never forget or be forgiven for. Why don't you stand up and speak eloquently to stop this violence and this war, to ask for peace, to get to the peace table, and make a difference in Russia saving lives, and for the people of Ukraine. ____________________”