President of the US, Joe Biden, addresses Americans and appeals to them to support Ukraine and Israel
President of the United States, Joe Biden, addressed the American people from the Oval Office. In his speech, he appealed for support for Ukraine and Israel.
Biden said that Hamas and Putin represent different threats, they share this in common. "Hamas' goal is to destroy Israel and kill Israelis. The group does not represent the Palestinian people. The militants use civilians as a shield. Meanwhile, Putin wants to deprive Ukraine of its statehood. He believes that the USSR created Ukraine."
Ensuring the success of both Ukraine and Israel is vital to US national security. If terrorists don't pay the price for their terror, if dictators don't pay the price for their aggression, they cause more chaos and more destruction. For example, Putin is already threatening Poland, and one of his advisers has called the Baltic States Russia's Baltic provinces.
US allies in Europe, as well as adversaries, are watching Washington's support for Ukraine. If Russia takes away Ukraine's independence, "the risks of conflict and chaos" will spread to other continents, such as the Pacific and the Middle East.
The US President will submit an urgent budget request to Congress for additional funding for Ukraine and Israel. "It’s a smart investment that’s going to pay dividends for American security for generations. It will help protect American troops."
"Putin thought he would take over all of Ukraine in a matter of days. For over a year, he has failed and continues to fail, thanks to the bravery of the Ukrainian people. Ukraine has regained more than 50 per cent of the territories occupied by Russian troops," the US president said.
All Ukraine asks the US for is help. Weapons, ammunition, and "the capability of pushing invading Russian forces off their land". For air defence systems that will shoot down Russian missiles over Ukrainian cities.
The US sends Ukrainians equipment that is in storage. "And when we use the money allocated by Congress, we use it to replenish our own stores, our own stockpiles, with new equipment that is made in America."
"We have to bridge the gap at home. We can’t let petty partisan, angry politics get in the way of our responsibilities as a great nation. We cannot and will not let terrorists like Hamas and tyrants like Putin win. I refuse to let that happen," Biden said.
On October 18, President Biden visited Israel; on February 22 this year, he visited Ukraine. These are the first times that a US leader has visited these two countries at war.
Photo: Jonathan Ernst | Reuters
