United States President Joe Biden will say in his State of the Union Address later tonight that Russian President Vladimir Putin's attack on Ukraine was "premeditated and unprovoked," excerpts from his speech released by the White House showed.
"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. Putin was wrong. We were ready," Biden is set to say.
Russia launched a military intervention in Ukraine last week after leaders of self-proclaimed Donbass republics asked Moscow for military assistance with Putin branding the move defensive in nature. Moscow promised to end the conflict if Ukraine agrees to give up NATO membership ambitions, maintain a neutral status and recognize Russian sovereignty over Crimea.
