US airspace closed to all Russian flights, says Biden

KABUL (Pajhwok): President Joe Biden has announced closing US airspace to all Russian flights, as the war in Ukraine continues.

In his maiden State of the Union address late on Tuesday, Biden said his administration was slapping biting sanctions on Russia.

The president told a joint session of Congress the curbs were cutting off Russian banks from the international financial system.

Al Jazeera quoted the US leader claimed Russian President Vladimir Putin alone was to blame for the war in UKraine.

The US would join its allies in closing off American airspace to all Russian flights, isolating Russia and putting an additional squeeze on its economy, he said.

Cheered by lawmakers from both sides, Biden said: “While Putin may make gains on the battlefield, he will pay a continuing high price over the long run.”

Assuring Kiev of all-out support, the US president paid a nod to Ukrainian Ambassador Oksana Markarova, who was invited to the session by First Lady Jill Biden.

Biden said the US would not send troops to fight Russia in Ukraine, but it was ready to defend NATO allies.

PAN Monitor/mud