State of the Union: Biden rebukes Putin, praises brave Ukrainians, offers 'unity agenda'

"We are stronger today than we were a year ago," the president said.

President Joe Biden delivered his first State of the Union address as Russian strikes were killing civilians, forces were massing near Ukraine's capital Kyiv and Russian President Vladimir Putin showed no sign of backing down.


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Some House members to wear blue and yellow in support of Ukraine

Democratic Rep. Cheri Bustos, on Capitol Hill this morning for interviews with local TV stations, told reporters that many members will wear blue and yellow colors tonight in support of Ukraine.

During President Donald Trump's address in 2020, dozens of female members of Congress wore "suffragist white" -- intended to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, ratified in 1920, granting American women the right to vote.

-ABC News' Mariam Khan


Biden to stress leadership on Ukraine

President Joe Biden's 9 p.m. ET speech, to be carried live on national television and seen around the world, will be delivered just days after Russia invaded Ukraine -- and days after he nominated the first Black woman to sit on the Supreme Court.

But he'll also be speaking to Americans suffering from historic inflation as the nation continues to emerge from the coronavirus pandemic.

With his job approval at an all-time low of 37%, Biden faces the difficult task of balancing their pain with his desire to reap the political benefits of his legislative wins so far -- a massive COVID relief package and a once-in-a-generation investment in the nation's infrastructure -- while also demonstrating his leadership on one of the greatest threats to European stability since World War II.
-ABC News' Ben Gittleson


Heightened security on Capitol grounds

The nation's capital has ramped up security ahead of Biden's first State of the Union address tonight.

Up to 700 National Guard troops have been made available to assist local law enforcement, and a controversial inner-perimeter fence once again surrounds the U.S. Capitol.

The U.S. Capitol Police have also been working in tandem with local, state and federal law enforcement agencies on a "security plan to prevent any disruption to the important work of Congress," Capitol Police Chief Tom Manger said in a statement earlier this week.

-ABC News' Noah Minnie