Biden says US stands with Ukrainian people

Steve Holland and Makini Brice and Andrea Shalal | March 2, 2022

US President Joe Biden has led a standing ovation for the embattled Ukrainian people in a rewritten State of the Union speech to assail Russian President Vladimir Putin for what he called his “unprovoked and premeditated invasion” of Ukraine.

“Let each of us if you’re able to stand, stand and send an unmistakable signal to Ukraine and to the world,” Biden said on Tuesday.

Often polarised along partisan lines, Democrats and Republicans rose to applaud their support for Ukraine, many waving Ukrainian flags and cheering in the chamber of the House of Representatives at Biden’s first formal State of the Union speech.

In a deviation from his prepared remarks, Biden said of Putin: “He has no idea what’s coming.”

Biden was looking to reset his presidency after a first year in office marked by rapid economic growth and trillions of dollars in new programs, but beset by the highest inflation in 40 years and a lingering coronavirus pandemic.

The annual speech to Congress gave Biden a platform to highlight his agenda, reassure fretful Americans and seek to boost his sluggish poll numbers amid dire warnings his fellow Democrats could face losses in November congressional elections.

For the first time in months, members of Congress were not required to wear masks in the chambers to guard against the pandemic, a sight that could provide helpful optics for the president.

Ahead of Biden’s arrival, the Ukrainian flags were passed out in the House chamber, the venue for his speech. Several women members of Congress arrived wearing the flag’s colors of yellow and blue.

Biden’s challenge was to show Americans he is on top of the West’s response to the most tense period in relations with Russia since the Cold War ended 30 years ago.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has tested Biden’s ability to respond rapidly to events without sending American forces into battle.

The United States and its allies have launched withering sanctions against Russia’s economy and financial system, Putin himself and his inner circle of oligarchs. More sanctions are being planned.

The crisis forced Biden, whose chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan last year drew wide criticism, to reshape the speech to focus on uniting Americans around a global effort to punish Moscow and support Kyiv.

He launched heavy criticism of Putin in his remarks, saying the Russian leader had badly miscalculated how events would unfold and that now “Russia’s economy is reeling and Putin alone is to blame.”

“He 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,” he said.

“From President Zelenskiy to every Ukrainian, their fearlessness, their courage, their determination, inspires the world.”

Biden said Putin ignored 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.

“Putin was wrong. We were ready.”

Biden announced the United States will join other nations in banning Russian flights from American airspace.

In a show of support for Ukraine, first lady Jill Biden had as her guest at the speech the Ukraine ambassador to the United States, Oksana Markarova, who travelled in the Biden motorcade from the White House to Capitol Hill.