Biden announces U.S. will close off airspace to Russia in State of the Union address

March 1 (UPI) -- President Joe Biden announced during his first State of the Union address Tuesday night that the United States will close off its airspace to all Russian flights in response to its invasion of Ukraine.

Biden said the move would further isolate Russia, which is already facing sanctions and similar restrictions from U.S. allies and other nations throughout the world, in response to what he called a "premeditated and unprovoked" attack by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"Throughout our history, we've learned this lesson -- when dictators do not pay a price for their aggression, they cause more chaos," he said. "They keep moving. And the costs and threats to America and the world keep rising."

Biden highlighted the strength of NATO, which Ukraine was seeking to join prior to the invasion, as he said Putin "rejected efforts at diplomacy" in carrying out the invasion.

"He thought the West and NATO wouldn't respond. And he thought he could divide us here at home," he said of Putin. "Putin was wrong. We were ready."

Biden also said the United States has already given more than $1 billion in direct assistance to Ukraine and will continue to aid the Ukrainian people but assured the United States forces "are not engaged and will not engage" in conflict with the Russian forces in Ukraine.

"Our forces are not going to Europe to fight in Ukraine, but to defend our NATO allies -- in the event that Putin decides to keep moving west," he said, noting that U.S. forces have been mobilized to protect countries including Poland, Romania, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia.

Biden praised the "iron will" of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and the nation's people as they have fought to stave off the Russian invasion.

"[Putin] thought he could roll into Ukraine and the world would roll over. Instead, he met a wall of strength he never imagined. He met the Ukrainian people," Biden said. "From President Zelensky to every Ukrainian, their fearlessness, their courage, their determination, inspires the world. Groups of citizens blocking tanks with their bodies. Everyone from students to retirees, teachers turned soldiers, defending their homeland."

In response to rising oil prices as a result of the Russian invasion, Biden formally announced the release of 60 million barrels of oil from emergency reserves by the United States and its allies.

"America will lead that effort, releasing 30 million barrels from our own Strategic Petroleum Reserve. And we stand ready to do more if necessary, united with our allies," he said.

"These steps will help blunt gas prices here at home. But I know the news about what's happening can seem alarming to all Americans but I want you to know we're going to be OK, we're going to be OK. When the history of this era is written, Putin's war on Ukraine will have left Russia weaker and the rest of the world stronger."

Turning an eye toward inflation, Biden announced a plan that will "lower your costs, not your wages," by lowering the cost of prescription drugs, cutting energy costs, reducing the cost of childcare and implementing a 15% minimum tax rate for corporations.

Under the plan, Biden said the United States will work to "make more cars and semiconductors in America. More infrastructure and innovation in America. More goods moving faster and cheaper in America. More jobs where you can earn a good living in America. And, instead of relying on foreign supply chains -- let's make it in America."

"My plan will not only lower costs to give families a fair shot, it will lower the deficit," he said. "The previous administration not only ballooned the deficit with tax cuts for the very wealthy corporations, it undermined the watchdogs whose job was to keep pandemic relief funds from being wasted."

Biden declared that "the watchdogs have been welcomed back" under his administration, as the White House announced a set of policies to "prevent, deter and punish" identity theft and other forms of fraud related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

These plans include appointing a chief prosecutor to the Department of Justice's COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to focus on issues such as large-scale identity theft using "state-of-the art-data analytics tools" and to investigate Paycheck Protection Program and Unemployment Insurance fraud.

"We're going after the criminals who stole billions in relief money meant for small businesses and millions of Americans," he said.

Further addressing the pandemic, Biden announced that Americans will be able to order additional tests through covidtests.gov, a government website established in January to provide Americans with up to four individual rapid antigen COVID-19 tests per residential address.

He added that the administration would also launch a "Test to Treat" initiative that will allow people who test positive for COVID-19 at a pharmacy to receive antiviral pills "on the spot at no cost."

Upon its authorization, Biden announced the United States would purchase 10 million courses of Pfizer's Paxlovid antiviral pill and has since said it will double the order.

Biden touted that COVID-19 cases have declined since a peak brought on by the Omicron variant and said the United States will continue to fight against the virus.

"I know some are talking about 'living with COVID-19.' Tonight, I say that we will never just accept living with COVID-19," he said. "We will continue to combat the virus as we do other diseases. And because this is a virus that mutates and spreads, we will stay on guard."

Biden used the platform to call on Congress to pass multiple pieces of legislation including the Bipartisan Innovation Act, Paycheck Fairness Act, PRO Act, Freedom to Vote Act, John Lewis Voting Rights Act and the Disclose Act.

He also highlighted the Equality Act, which protects the rights of LGBTQ Americans to rent a home and receive public goods and services in the face of rising anti-transgender laws, including a recent directive in Texas ordering child services to investigate parents who seek gender-affirming care for their children.

"The onslaught of state laws targeting transgender Americans and their families is wrong," he said. "As I said last year, especially to our younger transgender Americans, I will always have your back as your president, so you can be yourself and reach your God-given potential."

Biden further called on Congress to pass his budget, noting funds allocated in the American Rescue Plan to allow localities to hire more police and invest in strategies such as community violence interruption.

"We should all agree: The answer is not to defund the police," he said. "The answer is to fund the police with the resources and training they need to protect our communities."

Biden closed by outlining a "Unity Agenda for the Nation" including beating the opioid epidemic, addressing mental health, supporting veterans and ending cancer.

"So on this night, in our 245th year as a nation, I have come to report on the State of the Union. And my report is this: the State of the Union is strong -- because you, the American people, are strong," Biden said. "We are stronger today than we were a year ago. And we will be stronger a year from now than we are today."