US President Joe Biden on Tuesday night delivered his first State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress. Biden began his remarks by discussing the Russian invasion of Ukraine. “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, that he badly miscalculated. He thought he could roll into Ukraine and the world would've roll over. Instead, he was met with a wall of strength he never anticipated or imagined. He met the Ukrainian people,” he said. “[From] President [Volodymyr] Zelensky — to every Ukrainian, their fearlessness, 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. In the struggle, President Zelensky said in his speech in the European parliament, light will win over darkness. Excerpts of the speech, released by the White House ahead of the address and quoted by Reuters , revealed that Biden will say that the West was ready for Russian President Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine and his administration is prepared with a plan to fight inflation.” "We, the United States of America, stand with Ukrainian people. Throughout our history we’ve learned this lesson - when dictators do not pay a price for their aggression, they cause more chaos. They keep moving. And, the costs and threats to America and the world keep rising," Biden added. "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," Biden added. "Putin was wrong. We were ready." “We prepared extensively and carefully. We spent months building coalitions of other freedom loving nations in Europe and the Americas to the Asian and African continents to confront Putin. Many of you, I spent countless hours unifying our European allies. We shared with the world in advance what we knew Putin was planning and precisely how we would try to falsify and justify — how he would try to falsify and justify his aggression,” said Biden. “We countered Russia's lies with the truth, and now he has acted, 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, Korea, Australia, New Zealand, even Switzerland inflicting pain on Russia and supporting the people of Ukraine. Putin is now isolated from the world more than he has ever been.” “The United States Department of Justice is assembling a dedicated task force to go after the crimes of the Russian oligarchs. We are joining with European allies to find and seize their yachts, their luxury apartments, their private jets. We are coming for you. Tonight, I am announcing we will join our allies in closing off American airspace to all Russian flights,” said Biden, thus confirming comments made earlier by US officials to the Reuters news agency. “Together with our allies, we are providing support to the Ukrainians in their fight for freedom. Military assistance. Economic assistance. Humanitarian assistance. And we will continue to aid the Ukrainian people as they defend their country and to help ease their suffering.” Biden clarified, “Our forces are not engaged and will not engage in the conflict with Russian forces in Ukraine. Our forces are not going to Europe to fight Ukraine but to defend our allies in the event Putin decides to keep moving west. We have mobilized American ground forces, air squadrons, ship deployments to protect countries including Poland, Latvia and Estonia. As I have made clear, the United States and our allies will defend every inch of territory that is NATO territory with the full force of our collective power. Every single inch.” The President also addressed rising inflation in his remarks by calling for more cars and semiconductors to be made in the United States. "My plan to fight inflation will lower your costs and lower the deficit," he said. On the continued fight against COVID-19, Biden said, “Some are talking about ‘living with COVID-19.’ Tonight, I say that we will never just accept living with COVID-19. We will continue to combat the virus as we do other diseases.” “But thanks to the progress we have made this year, COVID-19 need no longer control our lives,” he stated. At the conclusion of his remarks, Biden said, “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.” “We are stronger today than we were a year ago. And we will be stronger a year from now than we are today. This 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. God bless you all. And May God protect our troops. Thank you.” Related articles: Ex-Aide reveals Biden's mental condition during campaign Harris aides discussed, 'What happens if Biden dies in office' Former student denounces detention as ‘anti-Palestinian racism’ Trump ends Secret Service protection for Biden’s children