The President of Russia, Vladimir Putin is a «dictator», «more isolated than ever», the US president assured, Joe Biden, further confirming that the US will close its airspace «to all Russian flights», during his first «State of the Union address» since taking office.
The head of state also threatened the Russian «oligarchs» that Washington and its allies would confiscate «their yachts, luxury apartments and private aircraft», which they acquired by committing ’crimes« that the US Justice Department is forming a special task force to »pursue«, as he said.
Starting his speech, Joe Biden called on members of Congress to stand up to show that they are «on the side of the people of Ukraine» as the Russian invasion entered its seventh day.
«The fact that the Russian dictator invaded a foreign country has a cost for the whole planet,» the 79-year-old Democrat said during his speech, which, although the unwritten political tradition wants it to be devoted to national issues, this time it was largely about the Ukrainian crisis. Vladimir Putin «was wrong, we were ready, we were united,» the US president said, praising the reaction of Washington and its allies.
The Russian President «he thought that the West and NATO would not react. He thought it would divide us at home.», but in what Mr Biden describes as a battle of «democracies» against «authoritarian regimes», «democracies have been true to their appointment» and the world «has clearly chosen the side of peace and security», however, he added, this struggle will «take time».
Vladimir Putin probably thought that he would «walk into Ukraine» and «the world would fall on its back’, but »instead, he met a wall of power he had not imagined. He met the Ukrainian people. From (Ukrainian President) Volodymyr Zelensky to every Ukrainian, their courage and determination inspire the world,« he said.
In any case, according to the 46th US president, «if dictators do not pay the price for their attacks, they cause even more chaos».
«Putin can surround Kiev with tanks, but he will never be able to take the heart, the soul of the Ukrainian people», will «never extinguish his love for freedom», he added.
Ukraine's ambassador to the US, Oksana Markarova, was at the side of First Lady Jill Biden, who invited her to the federal Capitol. Several members of Congress, mostly women, chose to wear blue and yellow, the colours of the Ukrainian flag, while several parliamentarians waved the Ukrainian national symbol in the hall.
«When the history of this period is written», the conclusion will be that «Putin's war in Ukraine left Russia weaker and the rest of the world stronger», the US president predicted.
The Russian president «has no idea what is coming», Mr Biden said.
The US government aims to strangle Russia's access to technological resources, undermine its economic power and weaken its military in the coming years, he continued. Mr Putin may make gains on the battlefields but he will pay dearly «in the long run», he threatened, as bilateral tensions have reached a level unprecedented since the end of the Cold War.
With his speech, Joe Biden wanted to create an atmosphere of unity in the US, something he has been trying - in vain - to achieve since his election.
Turning to issues that affect the daily lives of Americans, he said that controlling inflation is his administration's «top priority» and announced that the US may release another 30 million barrels of crude from its strategic reserves «if necessary» to stabilize the market.
He spoke of «choice»: «One way to fight against inflation, is to lower wages and make Americans poorer. I have a better plan. Instead of being dependent on overseas supply chains, let's produce in the U.S.,» he said, emphasizing the creation of jobs and the increase in the output of American businesses.
The goal is «more jobs that can pay good wages» and «instead of being dependent on overseas supply chains, make what we need in America (...). The plan to fight inflation will reduce costs and reduce the deficit.».
He also returned to his grandiose plans for infrastructure, promising that «we will have a whole decade dedicated to infrastructure», that «millions of jobs will be created», that «roads, airports, ports» etc. will be «modernised», something he described as necessary in order for the country to "withstand the devastating effects of the climate crisis".
Referring to the pandemic of the new coronavirus, said the health crisis «no longer needs to dominate our lives» as the use of surgical masks is now optional in most parts of the country - as it was also yesterday on Capitol Hill, in the US president's speech.
«We will continue to fight against this virus, as we do with other diseases,» the head of state said, adding that «we must continue to be vigilant» about new variants and the spread of SARS-CoV-2 as he admitted «I cannot promise you that a new variant will not come.».
«We will launch the ‘Test to Treat’ programme, under which people will be able to take a test at the pharmacy and if they are positive they will be able to take pills directly, at no cost,‘ he added. ’Tonight I can tell you that we are moving forward safely and returning to a more normal daily routine,» he said, adding that «we will never give up on getting more Americans vaccinated.».
The White House announced that it will detail the administration's new pandemic plan later today.
According to recent polls, the American president, who is struggling to convince the public that the country is in good hands, continues to see his popularity sink below 40%, despite the growth of the economy, despite low unemployment, despite the fact that the pandemic's grip seems to be loosening.
None of this has so far benefited the head of state and the Democrats, who fear that in November they will lose their narrow majority in Congress, while the Donald Trump continues to electrify his followers and the political climate remains tense as disputes over social issues, from abortion to gun control, from the fight against racism to sexual discrimination, are rife.
Capitol Police had set up protective barricades around the building, which was attacked in January 2021 by supporters of Republican predecessor Joe Biden.
