Ukraine invasion: Biden says Putin ‘has no idea what’s coming’ as US closes its airspace to Russia
- US President Joe Biden levels ferocious criticism at Russia’s leader in his State of the Union address
- Ukraine’s besieged cities bracing for more attacks by Russian forces as invasion enters seventh day
Bided used the speech in Washington on Tuesday to announce US plans to ban Russian airliners and other aircraft from American airspace.
The US move follows similar action taken by Canada and the European Union as part of a raft of sanctions that have isolated and punished Russia for its attack on its neighbour Ukraine.
Harsh sanctions imposed on Russia and the resulting crash of the rouble have the Kremlin scrambling to keep the country’s economy running.
With the war in Ukraine entering its seventh day, Ukraine’s besieged cities were bracing for more attacks as Russian commanders facing fierce Ukrainian resistance intensified their bombardment of urban areas in a push toward the capital Kyiv.
Later Wednesday, the 193-member UN General Assembly was expected to vote on a resolution demanding that Russia immediately stop using force against Ukraine and withdraw all its military forces.