WASHINGTON, Mar 2: Accusing his Russian counterpart of waging a “premeditated and unprovoked” war against Ukraine, President Joe Biden in his maiden State of the Union Address asserted that “dictators” like Vladimir Putin would “pay a price” for “invading” a foreign country.
Set upon a backdrop of a conflict in Ukraine that grows deadlier each day, Biden called for a united resistance to Russia’s aggression and sought to reassure pandemic-weary Americans who are also feeling the pinch of rising inflation.
“A Russian dictator, invading a foreign country, has costs around the world,” Biden said in a prime-time speech, nearly a week after President Putin ordered a special military operation against Ukraine.
“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,” the 79-year-old Democrat, the oldest serving US President, said addressing the joint session of the US Congress.
“That’s why the NATO Alliance was created to secure peace and stability in Europe after World War II. The United States is a member along with 29 other nations. It matters. American diplomacy matters,” he said, launching a blistering attack on the 69-year-old Russian president.
“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. Putin was wrong. We were ready,” Biden said.
Biden said that Putin badly miscalculated the attack on Ukraine. “Putin thought he could roll into Ukraine and the world would roll over. Instead he met a wall of strength he never imagined. He met the Ukrainian people,” Biden said.
“In this struggle as President (Volodymyr) Zelenskyy said in his speech to the European Parliament ‘Light will win over darkness.’ The Ukrainian Ambassador to the United States is here tonight. Let each of us here tonight in this Chamber send an unmistakable signal to Ukraine and to the world,” he said amidst applause from a packed house of lawmakers.
Biden said the US and its allies prepared extensively and carefully. “We spent months building a coalition of other freedom-loving nations from Europe and the Americas to Asia and Africa to confront Putin,” he said.
“We countered Russia’s lies with truth. And now that he has acted the free world is holding him accountable,” he said amidst another round of applause.
At the same time, Biden asserted that the US forces are not engaged and will not engage in conflict with Russian forces in Ukraine.
“Our forces are not going to Europe to fight in Ukraine, but to defend our NATO Allies – in the event that Putin decides to keep moving west,” he said.
Biden said he has made it crystal clear the United States and its allies will defend every inch of territory of NATO countries with the full force of “our collective power”.
“Together with our allies – we are right now enforcing powerful economic sanctions. We are cutting off Russia’s largest banks from the international financial system. Preventing Russia’s central bank from defending the Russian Ruble making Putin’s USD 630 billion “war fund” worthless,” he said.
He said the US and its allies were choking off Russia’s access to technology that will sap its economic strength and weaken its military for years to come. “Tonight I say to the Russian oligarchs and corrupt leaders who have bilked billions of dollars off this violent regime no more,” he said.
“And I’m taking robust action to make sure the pain of our sanctions is targeted at Russia’s economy. And I will use every tool at our disposal to protect American businesses and consumers,” he said.
He said that when the history of this era is written Putin’s war on Ukraine will have left Russia weaker and the rest of the world stronger. “We see the unity among leaders of nations and a more unified Europe a more unified West. We see unity among the people who are gathering in cities in large crowds around the world even in Russia to demonstrate their support for Ukraine,” he said.
“In the battle between democracy and autocracy, democracies are rising to the moment, and the world is clearly choosing the side of peace and security,” he added.
Biden said that the US Department of Justice is assembling a dedicated task force to go after the crimes of Russian oligarchs. “We are joining with our European allies to find and seize your yachts your luxury apartments your private jets. We are coming for your ill-begotten gains,” he said.
“And tonight I am announcing that we will join our allies in closing off American air space to all Russian flights – further isolating Russia – and adding an additional squeeze – on their economy. The Ruble has lost 30% of its value,” he said.
He said the Russian stock market has lost 40% of its value and trading remains suspended. Russia’s economy is reeling and Putin alone is to blame, he added.
In his address, Biden touched upon some of the key successes of his year-old administration and his policy perspective to some of the key challenges being faced by the nation, both on the domestic and international front.
“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. Lower your costs, not your wages,” he said.
“Make more cars and semiconductors in America. More infrastructure and innovation in America. More goods moving faster and cheaper in America. More jobs where you can earn a good living in America. And, instead of relying on foreign supply chains – let’s make it in America,” he said.
“Economists call it ‘increasing the productive capacity of our economy.’ I call it building a better America. My plan to fight inflation will lower your costs and lower the deficit,” Biden said.
Biden also urged Americans to prepare themselves for new coronavirus variants and launched a new initiative aimed at helping COVID-19-infected people to get tested at a nearby pharmacy and receive free antiviral pills on the spot.
Biden said thanks to the progress the country has made last year, COVID-19 need no longer controls the lives of the Americans.
Biden also highlighted how his Administration is executing on his comprehensive strategy to make our communities safer and reduce gun crime. (PTI)
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