Mar 1, 2022 - Politics & Policy

Biden to say U.S. and NATO were "ready" for Putin's invasion of Ukraine

Shawna Chen

Photo of Vladimir Putin speaking on the left and Joe Biden speaking on the right — Photos: Sergei Guneyev/TASS and Anna Moneymaker via Getty Images

President Biden will emphasize the U.S. and NATO's prepared response to Russian President Vladimir Putin's "premeditated and unprovoked" invasion of Ukraine in his State of the Union address Tuesday night, according to excerpts from his speech.

The big picture: Putin's actions have sparked accusations of terrorism and war crimes, and forced over 660,000 Ukrainians to flee their homes. U.S. officials had warned for weeks that an invasion was on the horizon.

What he's saying: "American diplomacy matters."

"Putin’s war was premeditated and unprovoked. He rejected efforts at diplomacy. He thought the West and NATO wouldn’t respond," Biden will say. "And, he thought he could divide us here at home."

"Putin was wrong. We were ready."

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Biden to say U.S. and NATO were "ready" for Putin's invasion of Ukraine

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