Biden promises to ‘inflict pain’ on Putin

US President Joe Biden delivered his first State of the Union address Tuesday (1), promising to “inflict pain” on Russian President Vladimir Putin in response to Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine. “We are choking off Russia’s access to technology that will sap its economic strength and weaken its military for years to come,” said Biden. Speaking directly to members of Russia’s kleptocratic ruling class, Biden pledged that the U.S. will “seize your yachts, your luxury apartments, your private jets. We are coming for your ill-begotten gains.” He also lauded the courage and resilience of the Ukrainian people, who on Tuesday night faced a vicious barrage of missiles on their major cities and continued to resist Russia’s advance. “Putin may circle Kyiv with tanks, but he will never gain the hearts and souls of the Ukrainian people. He will never extinguish their love of freedom. He will never weaken the resolve of the free world,” Biden said. President Joe Biden ended on an optimistic note, declaring “the State of the Union is strong — because you, the American people, are strong.” “We are stronger today than we were a year ago. And we will be stronger a year from now than we are today,” the president said. “Now is our moment to meet and overcome the challenges of our time. And we will, as one people. One America. The United States of America. May God bless you all. May God protect our troops,” Biden finished.