[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 48 (Thursday, March 17, 2022)]
[House]
[Page H3787]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY'S MESSAGE TO RUSSIAN TROOPS

  (Mr. WILSON of South Carolina asked and was given permission to 
address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Madam Speaker, during a Monday address 
to the Ukrainian people, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made a direct 
appeal to soldiers of Russia, asking: ``. . . why should you die?''
  Zelensky said: ``We hear what you really think about this senseless 
war . . .'' Then telling those who surrender: ``. . . we will treat you 
the way people are supposed to be treated'' and ``. . . not how you are 
being treated in your army.''
  Today, Putin declared war on the Russian people. His call for self-
cleansing is a repeat of the murderous Stalinists purges leading to 
Soviet Socialist nonpersons who disappeared.
  Today, I will be offering legislation for expedited refugee status to 
America for defecting members of the Duma, diplomatic personnel, and 
Russian Government officials.
  This reinforces the bipartisan legislation for Russian military 
defectors for expedited refugee status to America. The defectors who 
turn over equipment to Ukraine will receive up to $100,000.
  I also have a bill in Congress for a bust of President Zelenskyy to 
be placed in the U.S. Capitol.
  God bless Ukraine. God save Ukraine. Long live President Volodymyr 
Zelenskyy.

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