Biden Blocks Russian Planes From U.S. Airspace Over Ukraine Invasion

Topline

The United States will close off its airspace to all Russian planes, President Joe Biden announced in his first State of the Union address Tuesday night, as he vowed to impose heavy economic penalties on Russia for invading Ukraine.

President Joe Biden delivers the State of the Union address, flanked by Vice President Kamala Harris … [+] and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

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Key Facts

Biden said the ban on Russian flights is aimed at “further isolating Russia and adding an additional squeeze on their economy.”

Canada and the European Union also prohibited Russian planes from traveling through their airspace on Sunday, a move European Commission President Ursula van der Leyen said would keep Russian oligarchs’ private jets out of the 27-country EU bloc, and Russian airline Aeroflot was prohibited from landing in the United Kingdom last week.

What To Watch For

Russia could impose retaliatory measures against the United States. On Monday, Russia banned European and Canadian airlines from its airspace, Reuters and Bloomberg report.

Key Background

In his State of the Union address, Biden excoriated Russian President Vladimir Putin for ordering an invasion of Ukraine, and promised Russia will pay a hefty economic price. In the last week, the Biden Administration and U.S. allies have rolled out a series of sanctions on Russia: The U.S. moved to restrict Russia’s two largest banks, freeze the assets of Russia’s central bank, limit Russian imports of certain U.S. technology, ban some Russian state-owned firms from seeking financing from U.S. markets and impose sanctions on several Russian elites—including Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Crucial Quote

“Six days ago, Russia’s Vladimir Putin sought to shake the very foundation of the free world, thinking he could make it bend to his menacing ways, but he badly miscalculated,” Biden said. “He thought he could roll into Ukraine and the world could roll over. Instead, he met with a wall of strength he never anticipated or imagined.”

Contra

Biden reiterated that U.S. troops will not directly defend Ukraine from Russia’s military, but promised to keep offering military and economic assistance to the Ukrainian government.