Biden compares Putin to Hitler as he makes the case for continued aid to Ukraine in SOTU address

President Joe Biden devoted special attention to Ukraine in his third annual State of the Union address, but it was his comments about Russian dictator Vladimir Putin that had people talking.

Calling a spade a spade, Biden drew parallels between Russia’s war on Ukraine and the early 1940s when Germany’s Adolf Hitler was attempting to conquer Europe.

Biden began his hour-long speech with a historical comparison, invoking Franklin Roosevelt’s address to the nation in January 1941 amid Hitler’s aggression in Europe.

Read also: White House blasts Trump’s intimidation tactics

“Mr. Speaker. Madam Vice President. Members of Congress. My Fellow Americans,” Biden began.

“In January 1941, President Franklin Roosevelt came to this chamber to speak to the nation. He said, ‘I address you at a moment unprecedented in the history of the Union.’

Hitler was on the march. War was raging in Europe.

President Roosevelt’s purpose was to wake up the Congress and alert the American people that this was no ordinary moment,” Biden continued.

Freedom and democracy were under assault in the world.

Tonight, I come to the same chamber to address the nation.

Now it is we who face an unprecedented moment in the history of the Union.

Read also: Allies pressure Biden to secure Ukraine aid in State of the Union speech to Congress – Politico

And yes, my purpose tonight is to both wake up this Congress, and alert the American people that this is no ordinary moment either.

Not since President Lincoln and the Civil War have freedom and democracy been under assault here at home as they are today.

What makes our moment rare is that freedom and democracy are under attack, both at home and overseas, at the very same time.

Overseas, Putin of Russia is on the march, invading Ukraine and sowing chaos throughout Europe and beyond.

If anybody in this room thinks Putin will stop at Ukraine, I assure you, he will not.

But Ukraine can stop Putin if we stand with Ukraine and provide the weapons it needs to defend itself. That is all Ukraine is asking. They are not asking for American soldiers.

In fact, there are no American soldiers at war in Ukraine. And I am determined to keep it that way.

But now assistance for Ukraine is being blocked by those who want us to walk away from our leadership in the world.

It wasn’t that long ago when a Republican President, Ronald Reagan, thundered, ‘Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall.’

Now, my predecessor, a former Republican President, tells Putin, ‘Do whatever the hell you want.’

A former American President actually said that, bowing down to a Russian leader.

It’s outrageous. It’s dangerous. It’s unacceptable.

America is a founding member of NATO, the military alliance of democratic nations created after World War II to prevent war and keep the peace. 

Today, we’ve made NATO stronger than ever.

Read also: Biden to meet with Congressional Leadership in bid to unblock U.S. aid to Ukraine

We welcomed Finland to the Alliance last year, and just this morning, Sweden officially joined NATO, and their Prime Minister is here tonight.

Mr. Prime Minister, welcome to NATO, the strongest military alliance the world has ever known.

I say this to Congress: we must stand up to Putin. Send me the Bipartisan National Security Bill.

History is watching.

If the United States walks away now, it will put Ukraine at risk. Europe at risk. The free world at risk, emboldening others who wish to do us harm.

My message to President Putin is simple. 

We will not walk away. We will not bow down. I will not bow down.”

Biden's current address to the nation was his final speech before the presidential elections in November 2024, noted by The Guardian for its "strikingly combative" tone, as Biden repeatedly criticized Trump— from his foreign policy views to immigration reform.

We’re bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron!

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine