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Russia plotting chemical weapons attack: New details
Russia is entering its fourth week of attack Ukraine as the death toll and destruction continues to rise. Secretary of State Antony Blinken gave new details about the conflict, including how Russia is setting the stage to use a chemical weapon and then falsely blame Ukraine to create a false narrative and justify use of even more deadly force. Blinken said Russian President Vladimir Putin is also kidnapping local officials and replacing them with puppets and this action will continue to escalate.
WASHINGTON - The House of Representatives on Thursday voted 424-8 to suspend normal trade relations with Russia and Belarus amid the invasion of Ukraine.
The Senate will vote next on the suspension, which would enable President Biden to further weaken the Russian economy by levying higher tariffs on Russian goods such as steel, aluminum, plywood and other goods.
The United States has already moved to cut off about 60% of Russian imports by banning Russian oil and gas, as well as seafood, alcohol and diamonds.
RELATED: List of Russian goods that are banned, boycotted in US
The vote came a day after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed Congress and urged it to act with harsher measures against Russia and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
"I’m asking to make sure that the Russians do not receive a single penny that they use to destroy people in Ukraine," Zelenskyy told Congress in a video address.
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Full address: Zelenskyy calls on US Congress for more help -- 'Close the sky'
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke with the U.S. Congress from Kyiv where his country continues to wage war with Russian forces in what officials call an unprovoked attack by President Vladimir Putin. Zelenskyy implored members of Congress to help institute a no-fly zone and continue to enforce additional sanctions until the Russian military stops its assault. After playing a video showing some of the damage in Ukraine, Zelenskyy spoke in English to reiterate how important his request was.
Reps. Richard Neal, D-Mass., and Kevin Brady, R-Texas, said in a joint statement introducing the bill that Zelenskyy’s remarks "only strengthened our resolve to further isolate and weaken" Putin.
"We must do all we can to hold Putin accountable for senselessly attacking the Ukrainian people and undermining global stability," they said. "The suspension of normal trade relations is an essential part of our effort to restore peace, save lives and defend democracy."
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said, "To date, both parties, Democrat and Republican, remain united in sending Putin a clear message: His inhumane violence against the Ukrainian people will come at a crippling price."
The Associated Press contributed to this report. Get updates on this story at Foxbusiness.com.