Mr. Biden promised “an unshakeable conviction that freedom will always win over oppression” in a primetime speech.
His State of the Union address came at a time when pandemic-weary Americans are dealing with skyrocketing inflation.
“Putin’s war was deliberate and unprovoked,” the Democratic president said in an hour-long address to lawmakers on Tuesday night. Attempts at diplomacy were repeatedly rejected by him.
“He didn’t expect the West or Nato to retaliate.” And he believed he could split us up at home.”
Mr Biden, whose tumultuous exit from Afghanistan last year harmed his public image in the United States, added: “Putin was incorrect.” “We were prepared.”
He said that Russian planes will be barred from flying in American airspace, after similar measures taken by Canadian and European authorities.
The United States and its allies have imposed a slew of restrictions on Russia’s economy and financial system, as well as Mr Putin himself. Mr. Biden departed from his prepared statements in his speech, threatening more economic reprisal and warning Mr. Putin, “He has no idea what’s coming.”
The US president also greeted Ukrainian Ambassador Oksana Markarova, who sat in US First Lady Jill Biden’s VIP box and earned a standing ovation.
