“He thought he might divide us here at home. Putin was wrong.”
US President Joe Biden began his State of the Union address with a direct message to his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, who on February 24 launched a still-developing military offensive once morest Ukraine.
The international crisis, which has united the West once morest the Kremlin government, starred in the first part of the US president’s intervention.
Later, Biden addressed domestic politics, at a time when he faces low approval levels among voters due to inflation and measures once morest covid-19.
“Six days ago, Vladimir Putin sought to shake the foundations of the free world, he thought he might bend it with his dominant ways. Putin miscalculated,” the Democrat said in his speech that lasted regarding an hour.
What did Joe Biden say regarding the Ukraine-Russia crisis?
President Putin miscalculated when he decided to invade Ukraine.
We, the United States, stand with the Ukrainian people.
When dictators don’t pay a price for their aggression, they cause more chaos.
Putin’s attack on Ukraine was predetermined and unprovoked.
He thought that the West and NATO would not respond. And he thought that he might divide us at home. Putin was wrong. We were ready.
The US Department of Justice is putting together a working group dedicated to pursuing the crimes of the Russian oligarchs.
We will join our allies to close US airspace to all Russian flights
Our forces are not engaged and will not come into conflict with Russian forces in Ukraine, but will instead defend our NATO allies, should Putin decide to push further west.
An “isolated” Russia
Biden added that, following the conflict, Russia will end up weakened and recalled the sanctions that his country has imposed in recent days on officials of the Putin government, as well as other wealthy citizens, along with its Western partners.
“Tonight, I say to the Russian oligarchs and corrupt leaders that they built billions of dollars from this violent regime, not more,” he stressed.
“Together with our allies, we support Ukrainians in their struggle for freedom. military assistance. Economic assistance. Humanitarian assistance. And we will continue to help the Ukrainian people as they defend their country,” he said.
The Ukrainian ambassador to the United States was one of the guests of honor at the speech.
While alluding to the crisis in Eastern Europe, the president acknowledged the presence in the chamber of the Congress of the Ukrainian ambassador to the US, Oksana Markarovawho was located at the event next to the first lady, Jill Biden, in a gesture that demonstrates the administration’s clear support for the current Ukrainian government.
After mentioning the diplomat’s name, those present gave a standing ovation, an act that became one of the most emotional moments of the speech.
low popularity
The State of the Union message, an event that occurs every year in the North American country, and that usually drives the president’s agenda, comes at a difficult time for the Biden administration.
According to the Gallup pollster, for the first half of February the president had a 41% approval rating.
This percentage represents the lowest level that a president has registered in the last four decades at this point in his term, with the exception of Donald Trump who had 39%.
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The problems for Biden began with the controversial withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan last summer, which resulted in the return to power of the Taliban in that country.
In addition, the rising cost of living is a major concern for the average American and his legislative agenda has run into obstacles within the Democratic Party, in which he is a member.
“Build a better America”
The president acknowledged the economic difficulties facing the United States, with a direct reference to the problem of inflation. Given this, he said that he will promote a “new economic vision” for the country.
“Instead of relying on foreign supply chains, let’s make it American. Economists call it increasing the productive capacity of our economy.” I call it building a better America,” he said.
Hours before his speech, President Biden spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to discuss what US aid he might provide to his country.
He also mentioned that he will look for ways to “keep prices under control” and referred to the long-term benefits that his Infrastructure Law, passed with difficulty last year and with considerable amendments, is supposed to bring.
Biden used the occasion to ask Congress to pass the Innovation Act, which he said will allow “record” investments in emerging technologies.
“We need to level the playing field with China and other competitors”he maintained in relation to the legislation that is part of his economic plan.
With its sights set on the mid-term elections next November, when the Democrats fear losing control of the House of Representatives, the White House wanted to focus the speech on the internal agenda, but the Russian invasion of Ukraine changed the landscape.
More than two years following the pandemic once morest covid-19, the president affirmed that the United States has reached a new phase in the fight once morest the disease.
By this he meant that the country is developing an antiviral, which will be available to the population in pharmacies once they test positive for the disease.
He added that he will expand his policy of providing free covid tests and that the country’s schools will remain open.
“Our children need to be in school”said.
This announcement caused the Republican opposition to stand up to applaud him, in an unusual act for this type of speech.
Joe Biden greets the officers who attended his speech once he ends his speech and leaves Congress.
“Let’s stop looking at covid as a partisan line that divides us. Let’s look at it for what it is: a terrible disease. Let’s stop seeing each other as enemies. Let’s start seeing each other as what we are: fellow Americans,” he said.
Those attending the speech did not wear masks. In the United States, 2,000 people still die daily from covid, the highest number of any country in the world.
Starting next week, citizens will be able to request more tests to detect the virus at home. In the past few months, the current government had limited the sending of tests by each home.
Republican response
As is traditional, at the end of Biden’s speech came the response from the Republicans.
This year, the one in charge of doing it was the gobernadora de Iowa, Kim Reynoldswho criticized the management of the Democratic president.
Reynolds crafted a presidency that, he said, sent the country back to the 1970s, “when soaring inflation was crushing families, a wave of violent crime was hitting our cities, and the Soviet military was trying to redefine the map of the world.”
Other Republican representatives urged the president to suspend imports of Russian crude To united states.
