‘Dictator’ Putin and his aggression in Ukraine are slammed by Biden.

WASHINGTON : (AFP)On Tuesday, US Vice President Joe Biden called Russian President Vladimir Putin a “dictator” who faces economic and diplomatic isolation for invading Ukraine, and warned that the world is in a “battle” between democracy and despotism.

Biden made it clear that there would be no US boots on the ground in the week-old war on Europe’s doorstep as he delivered his first State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress and the American people, praising the Ukrainian “wall of strength” that has stood tall against Russian invaders.

“Let me be clear: our soldiers are not engaged in, and will not be engaged in, the battle in Ukraine with Russian forces,” the Democratic leader stated.

Despite this, Biden was vehement in his denunciation of Putin.

“Invading a foreign nation by a Russian tyrant has global consequences,” Biden added.

“In the war between democracy and autocracy, democracies are on the rise right now, and the world is plainly siding with peace and security.”

The West has begun a ferocious economic struggle with Russia, driven by severe new moves from Washington, unleashing a wave of sanctions that threatens to knock the Russian economy to its knees.

The US president issued a severe warning to Russian billionaires and “corrupt leaders” who he claims have bilked billions of dollars from Putin’s administration, saying the West will “seize their yachts, their luxury houses, and their private aircraft.”

To cheers, Biden continued, “We’re coming for your ill-gotten wealth.”

In reaction to the invasion of Ukraine, Biden announced a ban on all Russian aircraft from entering US airspace, joining Canada and a number of other European countries in restricting their airspace to Russian airliners and other aircraft.

Putin, he claimed, had grossly misjudged the tremendous reaction his invasion would elicit from Western nations, as sanctions wreak havoc on Russia’s economy.

“Putin’s war was planned, completely unprovoked,” he stated.

“Attempts at diplomacy were repeatedly rebuffed by him. He expected the West and NATO to remain silent. He believed he could split us up at home “Biden stated the following. “He believed he could also split us in Europe.”

“Putin, though, was mistaken. We’re all set. We are all in this together.”

Biden praised Ukrainians in particular for fighting Russians against an overwhelming military onslaught.

Putin is a Russian politician who was elected “He believed that if he rolled into Ukraine, the world would fall apart. Instead, he was confronted by a wall of power he had not expected or imagined “Biden mumbled something. “He met the people of Ukraine.”

In a show of bipartisanship, US senators gave Ukraine a standing ovation, turning to Oksana Markarova, Ukraine’s ambassador to Washington, who was sat in First Lady Jill Biden’s VIP box.