Biden says Zelenskyy 'inspires the world' amid brutal Russian war on Ukraine

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President Biden said in his State of the Union address Tuesday night said Ukrainian President Voldymyr Zelenskyy "inspirers the world," as he stays in the country's capitol of Kyiv while it's under siege by the Russian military. 

"Six days ago, Russia's Vladimir Putin sought to shake the very foundations of the free world, thinking he could make it bend to his menacing ways. But he badly miscalculated. He thought he could roll into Ukraine and the world would roll over," Biden said. "Instead, he met with… a wall of strength he never anticipated or imagined. He met the Ukrainian people and President Zelenskyy."

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stands alongside other government officials in a video posted to social media Friday vowing to defend the country from a Russian invasion.  (Armed Forces of Ukraine)

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Biden added: "Every Ukrainian, their fearlessness, their courage determination, literally inspires the world."

The president's comments come as the United States and Europe are hitting Russia with a slew of sanctions designed to punish it for the war, and as the U.S. and many other countries are giving weapons to Ukraine. 

President Joe Biden and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy meet in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Sept. 1, 2021. (Doug Mills/The New York Times/Bloomberg via Getty Images) (Doug Mills/The New York Times/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a massive segment of his military to amass on the Ukraine border before launching a full-scale invasion last month. Russian forces are struggling to take major Ukrainian cities, like its capital of Kyiv, but are using significantly more force as the war drags longer. 

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This includes a miles-long convoy of armored vehicles that is currently on its way toward Kyiv – although that movement is "bogged down," according to a senior defense official, amid a shortage of gas. 

Russia's stronger military is eventually expected succeed in its mission of taking over Ukraine, although western weapons and Ukrainians' fighting is expected to extract a higher price from Putin. 

Biden Tuesday touted the massive effect sanctions have already had on the Russian economy, as well as how united the West has been in its response. Many countries, "even Switzerland, are inflicting pain on Russia and supporting the people of Ukraine. Putin is now more isolated from the world than he has ever been," Biden said to a standing ovation. 

Fox News' Liz Frieden contributed to this report.