![US President Joe Biden gestures, applauded by Vice President Kamala Harris (L) and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, as he delivers his first State of the Union address in Washington, DC, on March 1. [Saul Loeb/Pool/AFP]](/cnmi_am/images/2022/03/02/34245-ua1-700_496.webp)
WASHINGTON -- US President Joe Biden on Tuesday (March 1) branded his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin a "dictator" facing withering economic and diplomatic isolation for invading neighboring Ukraine, and warned the world is in a "battle" between democracy and autocracy.
While he delivered his first State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress, praising the Ukrainian "wall of strength" that has stood tall against Russian invaders, Biden levelled ferocious criticism at Putin.
"A Russian dictator, invading a foreign country, has costs around the world," Biden 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."
![US first lady Jill Biden applauds her guest Ukrainian Ambassador to the United States Oksana Markarova as President Joe Biden welcomes Markarova during his State of the Union address in Washington, DC, March 1. [Evelyn Hockstein/Pool/AFP]](/cnmi_am/images/2022/03/02/34243-ua2-700_496.webp)
US first lady Jill Biden applauds her guest Ukrainian Ambassador to the United States Oksana Markarova as President Joe Biden welcomes Markarova during his State of the Union address in Washington, DC, March 1. [Evelyn Hockstein/Pool/AFP]
The international community, led by tough new steps from Washington, has launched a fierce economic battle with Russia, unleashing a wave of sanctions that threaten to bring the Russian economy to its knees.
Taking aim at Russian oligarchs and "corrupt leaders" who Biden said have stolen billions of dollars under Putin's regime, the US president delivered a stern warning that the West will "seize their yachts, their luxury apartments, their private jets".
"We're coming for your ill-begotten gains," Biden said to applause.
Biden announced a ban on all Russian aircraft from US airspace, adding the United States to Canada and a host of European nations closing airspace to Russian aircraft, including airliners, in response to the invasion of Ukraine.
Putin, he said, had badly underestimated the powerful response his invasion would elicit from Western nations as sanctions inflict "pain" on Russia's economy.
"Putin's war was premeditated, totally unprovoked," he said.
"He rejected repeated efforts at diplomacy. He thought the West and NATO wouldn't respond. He thought he could divide us at home," Biden said. "He thought he could divide us in Europe as well."
"But Putin was wrong. We are ready. We are united."
Ukrainian wall
Biden paid particular praise to Ukrainians who faced off against Russians despite an overwhelming military assault.
Putin "thought he could roll into Ukraine and the world would roll over. Instead, he met with a wall of strength he never anticipated or imagined," Biden intoned. "He met the Ukrainian people."
US lawmakers gave a standing ovation to Ukraine, turning to the country's ambassador to Washington, Oksana Markarova.
"Let each of us here tonight in this chamber send an unmistakable signal to Ukraine and to the world. Please rise if you are able, and show that, yes, we the United States of America stand with the Ukrainian people."
Tears in her eyes, Markarova struggled to compose herself as lawmakers clapped and cheered with one voice.
Yes, the admirable resistance of the Ukrainian people has once again raised humane values above the values of money, profit, and capital. One's value is not measured by the amount of money, collusion, and corruption, but by one's resistance to force and oppression, and by such values like sacrifice, struggle, and resistance for freedom. Dictatorial regimes must go. The Iranian clerical regime must be defeated and removed from the scene. Russia must commit to democracy.
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