Biden Says, Putin's Invasion Is 'Test For World'

U.S. President Joe Biden said in his State of the Union address Tuesday night that Vladimir Putin's brutal war against Ukraine is a test for America and for the whole world, TURAN's Washington correspondent reports from the U.S. Congress.

"Putin’s invasion has been a test for the ages. A test for America. A test for the world," Biden said. "A murderous assault, evoking images of the death and destruction Europe suffered in World War II," he added.

Biden went on to elaborate: "Would we stand for the most basic of principles? Would we stand for sovereignty? Would we stand for the right of people to live free from tyranny? Would we stand for the defense of democracy? For such a defense matters to us because it keeps the peace and prevents open season for would-be aggressors to threaten our security and prosperity. One year later, we know the answer. Yes, we would. And yes, we did."

Biden hailed America's leadership, saying that "we united NATO" and built a global coalition. "We stood against Putin’s aggression... We stood with the Ukrainian people," he said.

Biden then recognized Oksana Markarova, the Ukrainian ambassador to the United States, who was in the first lady’s box: “Ambassador, America is united in our support for your country. We will stand with you as long as it takes," he said. "Our nation is working for more freedom, more dignity, and more peace, not just in Europe, but everywhere"

During his annual speech, Biden also spoke about China, saying that he would cooperate with the great power rival, but vowed "to protect our country," a reference to a Chinese spy balloon that traveled across America last week.

"I'm committed to work with China where we can advance American interests and benefit the world," he said. "But make no mistake about it: as we made clear last week, if China threatens our sovereignty, we will act to protect our country. And we did."

Biden also said he would "make no apologies" that the U.S is investing to make America strong. "Investing in American innovation, in industries that will define the future, and that China’s government is intent on dominating."

"Investing in our alliances and working with our allies to protect our advanced technologies so they’re not used against us. Modernizing our military to safeguard stability and deter aggression,” he said. “Today, we’re in the strongest position in decades to compete with China or anyone else in the world."

Overall, Biden said, in the past two years, democracies have become "stronger, not weaker."

"Autocracies have grown weaker, not stronger... America is rallying the world again to meet those challenges, from climate and global health, to food insecurity, to terrorism and territorial aggression," Biden said.

Alex Raufoglu

Washington D.C.