Joe Biden State of the Union: Vladimir Putin will ‘pay a price' for Ukraine invasion

President Joe Biden has warned Vladimir Putin “freedom will always triumph over tyranny” as he revealed his next major move against the “dictator”.

US President Joe Biden has closed American airspace to all Russian aircraft as he warned during his State of the Union address not dealing with a “dictator” like Vladimir Putin would lead to “more chaos”.

“Six days ago, Russia’s Vladimir Putin sought to shake the very foundations of the free world thinking he could make it bend to his menacing ways, but he badly miscalculated. He thought he could roll into the Ukraine and world would rollover.

US Vice President Kamala Harris (L) and US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) applaud US President Joe Biden as he delivers his first State of the Union address at the US Capitol. Picture: AFP

“Instead, he met with a wall of strength he never anticipated or imagined. He met the Ukrainian people,” Mr Biden said to applause.

“President Zelensky … Every Ukrainian, their fearlessness, their courage, their determination, literally inspires the world. Groups of citizens, blocking tanks with their bodies. Everyone from students to retirees to teachers, turned soldiers defending their homeland. And in this struggle, President Zelensky said in his speech to the European Parliament – light will win over darkness,” he said.

US President Joe Biden has banned Russian aircraft from US airspace. Picture: AFP

“Throughout our history, we have learned this lesson – when dictators do not pay a price for their aggression, they cause more chaos. They keep moving and the cost to America and the America to the world keeps rising. That’s why the NATO alliance was created – to secure peace and stability in Europe after World War II.”

He continued: “The free world is holding him accountable along with 27 members of the European Union including France, Germany, Italy as well as countries like the United Kingdom, Canada, Japan, Korea, Australia, New Zealand and many others, even Switzerland are inflicting pain on Russia and supporting the people of Ukraine.”

Mr Putin had to “pay a price”, he said.

Applause for Joe Biden from the chamber. Picture: AFP

“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. Putin was wrong. We were ready. Putin has unleashed violence and chaos. But while he may make gains on the battlefield – he will pay a continuing high price over the long run.”

Mr Biden said the US had worked with 30 other countries to release 60 million barrels of oil around the world.

“We’re going to be okay,” he said.

“Putin’s war in Ukraine will have left Russia weaker, and the rest of the world stronger.”

Mr Biden said Mr Putin would suffer the economic fallout of his invasion. “He has no idea what’s coming” in terms of economic penalties and punishment, he said.

Ukrainian Ambassador to the United States Oksana Markarova (L) is embraced by First Lady Jill Biden. Picture: AFP

He also took aim at Russian oligarchs and “corrupt leaders” who he said have bilked billions of dollars off Putin’s regime, warning them: “We’re coming for your ill-begotten gains.”

Biden told Russian oligarchs the West will ‘seize their yachts, their luxury apartments, their private jets”.

On the pandemic, Mr Biden said the United States will “never just accept living with Covid,” as he used his State of the Union address to rally weary Americans facing their third year of the pandemic.

“Thanks to the progress we have made this past year, Covid-19 need no longer control our lives,” Biden said as he vowed to continue fighting the virus -- but even with that progress, he warned, the possibility the disease could mutate again means “we have to stay on guard”.

ZELENSKY WANTS ‘STRONG’ MESSAGE

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky earlier President Biden to deliver a strong and “useful” message about the Russian invasion at his State of the Union speech.

The White House said the two leaders spoke for just over 30 minutes, and discussed Russia’s increasing strikes on civilian sites, including Tuesday’s bombing of Kyiv’s main television tower near the Babi Yar Holocaust memorial.

“Just had a conversation with the US President. The American leadership on anti-Russian sanctions and defence assistance to Ukraine was discussed,” Mr Zelensky said on Twitter.

“We must stop the aggressor as soon as possible.”

Details on the phone call are expected to be released later in the day.

The phone call came on day six of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, with violence escalating in Kyiv and the eastern city of Kharkiv.

Women crosses the destroyed bridge across the Irpin river in Ukraine. Picture: Getty Images

At least five people have been killed in Kyiv where two missiles struck near a TV Tower amid fears Russia is attempting to knock out the city’s communications infrastructure.

“President Biden underscored the United States’ sustained help for Ukraine, including ongoing deliveries of security assistance, economic support, and humanitarian aid,” the White House said.

In an interview with CNN and Reuters from the bunker in Kyiv, Mr Zelensky said that as long as Moscow‘s attacks on Ukrainian cities continued, little progress could be made in talks between the two nations.

“You have to speak first of all. Everybody has to stop fighting and to go [back] to that point from where it began five, six days ago,” he said.

“It's important to stop bombing people and then we can move on and sit at the negotiation table.”

“I’ve spoken to Biden many times. And I’ve told them many times that Ukraine will resist and fight stronger than anyone else but on our own against Russia we won’t manage it.”