Cori Bush Statement on Russian Invasion of Ukraine
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congresswoman Cori Bush (MO-01), Member of the Tom Lantos Commission on Human Rights, released the below statement following the Russian invasion of Ukraine:
“I condemn in the strongest terms Vladimir Putin’s catastrophic and murderous invasion of Ukraine, a flagrant violation of international law. My heart is with the Ukrainian people whose lives are now in danger, whose communities are now under attack, and whose future is now uncertain. I also stand in solidarity with the brave Russian anti-war protestors who are standing up against Putin’s tyranny.
“I implore our international partners to collectively commit to a negotiated diplomatic solution. Diplomacy, at all levels, is not in and of itself the solution. However, without diplomacy, the possibility of ending the violence and saving lives is diminished.
“We are a country that has much to learn from the counterproductive and inhumane 20-year War on Terror that has led to more devastation than stability. We must focus on how we can use our power to aid and protect the most vulnerable. We cannot rely on the same tools of aggression and expect democracy and human rights to prevail.
“We must impose swift sanctions targeted at Putin’s oligarchs, who have made the Russian economy one of the most unequal in the world, as well as the Russian military. Additionally, I call on the Biden administration to immediately seize assets in the United States belonging to Putin and the Russian oligarchy.
“I have long opposed mass, broad-based sanctions that would cause grave, deadly harm to civilians for the decisions of a corrupt oligarchy – and Russia is no different. Broad-based sanctions would not only be ineffective, but would also condemn a generation of Russians into poverty and mass suffering. We must support the brave human rights defenders in Russia and Ukraine because our hope for lasting peace rests with those who resist tyranny everywhere that it exists.”