US President Joe Biden will accuse Russian President Vladimir Putin of having misjudged the West with an unprovoked invasion of Ukraine and will order a US ban on Russian flights in American airspace in his State of the Union speech.
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The annual speech to Congress gives Biden, a Democrat, a chance to highlight his agenda, reassure Americans concerned about COVID-19 and inflation, and seek to boost his sagging poll numbers with a show of presidential pomp.
Russia's invasion of Ukraine has dominated the White House's time in recent weeks, prompting Biden to reshape the speech to a focus on his efforts to unite Americans around a global effort to punish Moscow and support Kyiv.
Two sources familiar with the matter said Biden would announce the United States will ban Russian flights using American airspace.
"Throughout our history we've learned this lesson - when dictators do not pay a price for their aggression, they cause more chaos. They keep moving. And, the costs and threats to America and the world keep rising," Biden will say, according to excerpts of his address released by the White House.
The war in Ukraine and high inflation at home are two of the biggest challenges facing his administration, in addition to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
Biden will say that Putin eschewed efforts to prevent war, according to excerpts released by the White House.
"Putin's war was premeditated and unprovoked. He rejected efforts at diplomacy. He thought the West and NATO wouldn't respond. And, he thought he could divide us here at home," Biden will say.
"Putin was wrong. We were ready."
The president will also address rising inflation in his remarks by calling for more cars and semiconductors to be made in the United States.
"Instead of relying on foreign supply chains, let's make it in America," he will say. "My plan to fight inflation will lower your costs and lower the deficit."
Biden's address comes as his fellow Democrats face the prospect of losing control of the US House of Representatives and the Senate in the November 8 mid-term elections.
A forceful uptick in Biden's approval would help prevent that and ensure his ability to make good on his agenda.
Public opinion polls have shown Biden out of favor with the majority of Americans for months. The most recent Reuters/Ipsos poll, taken last week, showed him at 43 per cent approval.
Even with the jobless rate at 4 per cent, most voters remain pessimistic about the economy, largely due to skyrocketing consumer prices.
A quarter of Democrats think the party has failed to take advantage of its rare control of the White House and both houses of Congress.
Biden must convince viewers at home that the economy is, in fact, in solid shape despite inflation concerns, and that tough sanctions imposed by Washington and allies on Russia are worth the pain.
Russia's invasion of Ukraine could cause petrol prices to skyrocket.
The Ukrainian ambassador to the United States, Oksana Markarova, is set to attend the speech, sitting with the president's wife Jill Biden.
So will Pat Gelsinger, chief executive officer of Intel Corp, as the Biden administration seeks to showcase efforts to bolster chip supplies.
About two-thirds of Americans support Biden slapping Russia with economic sanctions over its invasion of Ukraine.
Even so, Americans are concerned about domestic issues, including the economy and high inflation, and allies hope Biden will highlight his successes and address their worries in his speech.
Australian Associated Press
