US President Joe Biden vowed in his first State of the Union address on Tuesday night to check Moscow’s aggression in Ukraine as he announced a ban on Russian planes in US airspace.
U.S. President Joe Biden ordered a ban on Russian flights in American airspace on Tuesday in his State of the Union speech.
He also accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of having misjudged the West with an unprovoked invasion of Ukraine.
In the annual speech to Congress Biden highlighted his agenda, reassured Americans concerned about COVID-19 and inflation, and sought to boost his sagging poll numbers with a show of presidential pomp.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has dominated the White House’s time in recent weeks, prompting Biden to reshape the speech to a focus on his efforts to unite Americans around a global effort to punish Moscow and support Kyiv.
“Throughout our history we’ve learned this lesson – when dictators do not pay a price for their aggression, they cause more chaos. They keep moving. And, the costs and threats to America and the world keep rising,” Biden said.
Biden said Putin eschewed efforts to prevent war.
“Putin’s war was premeditated and unprovoked. He rejected efforts at diplomacy. He thought the West and NATO wouldn’t respond. And, he thought he could divide us here at home,” Biden will say. “Putin was wrong. We were ready.”
Battling rising inflation exacerbated by the Russian crisis and assailed by Republicans who accused him of allowing it to get out of control, Biden called on U.S. companies to make more cars and semiconductors in the United States.
“We have a choice. One way to fight inflation is to drive down wages and make Americans poorer. I have a better plan to fight inflation,” Biden said.
“Instead of relying on foreign supply chains, let’s make it in America… My plan to fight inflation will lower your costs and lower the deficit.”
