United States President Joe Biden warned that Vladimir Putin will not stop at Ukraine and that Ukraine can stop Putin if Washington stands with Kyiv and provides weapons.
Speaking during the State of Union Address ahead of the US Presidential elections on Thursday (local time), Biden said, "Overseas, Putin and Russia are on the march, invading Ukraine, and sowing chaos throughout Europe and beyond. If anyone in this room thinks that Putin will stop at Ukraine. ."
"But Ukraine can stop Putin if we stand with them and provide them weapons and make it defend itself. That is what Ukraine has been asking. They are not asking for American soldiers," he added.
During his address, Biden also announced that Sweden has officially joined NATO after Finland.
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Trump's Words 'Dangerous'
Drawing a sharp attack on his predecessor Donald Trump over the January 6 US Capitol Hill attack, Biden branded it as the "gravest threat to democracy since civil war." "My predecessor and some of you here seek to bury the truth about January," he added.
"You can't love your country only when you win."
Taking more swipes at Trump, the Democrat leader told Congress about the country he inherited from his "predecessor".
Trump "failed the most basic duty any president owes the American people, the duty to care," said Biden. "That is unforgivable."
Speaking on Roe Vs Wade, which effectively rescinded a nationwide guarantee to abortion, Biden said, "Women are not without electoral.. power.”
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US Economy
Making a pitch on his track record ahead of the polls, Biden made the case that the economy is stronger now than when he took office in 2021. "It doesn’t make the news, but in thousands of cities and towns, the American people are writing the greatest comeback story never told," he said.
"America’s comeback is building a future of American possibilities, building an economy from the middle out and the bottom up."
Backing the IVF treatment amid the controversy in Alabama, Biden laid the example of Latorya Beasly, a social worker from the state who had a child thanks to IVF 14 months ago.
"Let's stand up for families like hers," he said. "Guarantee the right to IVF nationwide."
Boasting the US economy, Biden said the American economy "is the envy of the world." Using the Union Address to make a strong case for himself, Biden said that 15 million new jobs have been created in the US and unemployment is at 50 50-year low.
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On China, Gaza
Touching upon the competition with China, Biden argued that the US trade deficit with China is down to "the lowest point in over a decade".
"We're standing against China's unfair economic practices," he said and promised that the US would defend Taiwan. "We want competition with China, but not conflict," he said, adding, "Across the Taiwan Straits, I've revitalized our partnership and alliance in the Pacific. India, Australia, Japan, South Korea, the Pacific islands..."
He described the war in Gaza as "gut-wrenching" and pledged to bring every hostage home.
Turning to Gaza, he described the conditions there as "heart-breaking" where more than 30,000 Palestinian civilians have been killed.
"We've been working non-stop to establish an immediate ceasefire that would last at least six weeks," he said.
Conclusion
Addressing the concern over his age, which is often a subject of scrutiny, the 81-year-old Biden said, "Let me close with this. I know I may not look like it – but I've been around a while. And when you get to my age – certain things become clearer than ever before."
Finally concluding his State of Union Address, Biden closed with a promise that he sees a "future for all Americans."
"I believe in you, the American people," he said. "You're the reason I've never been more optimistic about our future".
"Let's remember who we are," he stressed, adding, "We are the United States of America. There is nothing beyond our capacity when we act together."