U.S. President Joe Biden said on Tuesday that the United States would join Canada and the European Union in barring Russian planes from its airspace for the war in Ukraine. Biden began his first State of the Union address by calling Vladimir Putin directly, calling the Russian president a “gross miscalculation” because he thought he could turn “the foundations of the free world” to his “Threatening Ways”.
“Six days ago, Russia’s Vladimir Putin sought to shake the very foundations of the free world. Thinking he could make it bend to his menacing ways. But he badly miscalculated. He thought he could roll into Ukraine and the world would rollover. Instead, he met with a wall of strength he never anticipated or imagined. He met the Ukrainian people,” Biden said.
Biden also revealed that the U.S. Department of Justice intends to target Russian oligarchs by finding and confiscating their yachts, mansions and private jets.
“The U.S. Department of Justice is forming a task force to prosecute the crimes of the Russian oligarchs,” Biden told lawmakers to applause. “We are here for your ill-gotten gains.”
The U.S. president called Putin a “dictator” and said the Russian leader’s actions “have a global price.”
“Tonight I announced that we will work with our allies to close U.S. airspace to all Russian flights – further isolating Russia and putting additional pressure on its economy.”
He assured that the United States and its allies would “defend every inch of NATO with the full force of our collective power.”
“The Ukrainians are fighting back with absolute courage. Putin may win on the battlefield, but it will pay a heavy price in the long run.”
Complete News Source : Hindustan Times
