In an emotional speech on the State of the Union, Joe Biden declares war on Putin’s Russia, encourages the Ukrainians and pledges their own people to defend the free world.
President Joe Biden addresses Congress. Behind him: Vice President Kamala Harris and Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
Putin’s war of aggression against Ukraine not only unified the western alliance, but also largely the two major American parties. Many Republican and Democratic lawmakers showed up at the Capitol Tuesday night wearing Ukrainian blue and yellow clothing, carrying small Ukraine flags in their hands, or wearing stickers on their chests that read “I support Ukraine.” Also in attendance was Ukrainian Ambassador Oksana Markarova, who was embraced by First Lady Jill Biden to thunderous applause and tears in her eyes.
In view of the dramatic developments in Eastern Europe, the White House should hold the speech of the American President on the state of the nation rewrote it several times – including the part about the Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin. Apparently, Biden has chosen a sharp tone when addressing Moscow. «Six days ago, Putin tried to shake the foundations of the free world. He thought she would give in to his menacing approach. But he miscalculated badly.” Putin had met a wall of strength that he had not foreseen: “The Ukrainian people.”
A “test” for the free world
Putin tried to split the US and Europe. “Putin was wrong, we were ready,” said Biden, underlining his government’s great diplomatic efforts to unite the West. The sanctions of the free world, in which “even Switzerland” is involved, caused Russia great pain. The Russian central bank can no longer defend the Russian ruble: “That makes the $630 billion in Putin’s war chest worthless.”
Biden announced that the United States would now also block its airspace for Russian aircraft. In addition, the US Department of Justice will set up a task force to investigate crimes committed by Russian oligarchs and corrupt politicians, the US President announced. Together with the European partners, Washington wants to track down their yachts, luxury apartments and private planes: “We’ll go after your illegal profits.”
The American President promised the Ukrainians: “We are on your side.” Biden explained to his own citizens that the dispute was about a “real test” in the struggle between the democracies and autocracies of this world. If a Russian dictator invades another country, the consequences will be global. “Let us be inspired by the iron will of the Ukrainian people.” Biden is convinced that this will will not be able to break Putin: “Putin may surround Kyiv with tanks, but he will never win the hearts and souls of the Ukrainians.”
With oil reserves against rising inflation
At the same time, however, the American President again ruled out that the USA would intervene directly in the conflict with its own soldiers. He also acknowledged that the next few weeks and maybe months would be very tough for Ukrainians and that sanctions against Moscow were only just beginning to take full effect. As brave as Biden is now for Ukraine, the US basically failed to deliver enough arms to Kyiv to deter Putin. The Russian invasion may be sluggish, but it’s still going on. Washington cannot intervene directly if it does not want to risk nuclear war. And if the sanctions do not lead to a rethink in Moscow, this will fall back on Biden. Because the economic sanctions in the form of higher energy prices are likely to affect American citizens indirectly.
Americans are already suffering from record high inflation of around 7 percent. And it is one of the reasons why Biden’s approval rating was 37 percent half a year before the midterm congressional elections in November reached a new low. In his speech, the American President therefore announced that the United States, together with other countries, would bring oil reserves totaling 60 million barrels onto the market. America will provide half of it from its strategic reserves. “And if necessary, we are ready for more.”
In the second half of his speech, the President tried to convince the members of Congress of his domestic reform plans: from better childcare, the creation of new jobs to a fairer tax system and the fight against cancer. All of this, however, was overshadowed by the Ukraine war and its aftermath. “We’ll be okay,” Biden promised. “By the time the history of that era is written, Putin’s war against Ukraine will have made Russia weaker and the rest of the world stronger.” Meanwhile, the American President also tried to see something positive in the tragedy of the current situation: “While it would not have taken something so terrible for people around the world, everyone now sees clearly what is at stake.”