Biden to announce ban on Russian flights in American airspace in State of the Union address

U.S. President Joe Biden will accuse Russian President Vladimir Putin of having misjudged the West with an unprovoked invasion of Ukraine and will order a U.S. ban on Russian flights in American airspace on Tuesday in his State of the Union speech.

The annual speech to Congress gives Biden, a Democrat, a chance to highlight his agenda, reassure Americans concerned about COVID-19 and inflation, and seek to boost his sagging poll numbers with a show of presidential pomp.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has dominated the White House’s time in recent weeks, prompting Biden to reshape the speech to a focus on his efforts to unite Americans around a global effort to punish Moscow and support Kyiv.