One of U.S. President Joe Biden’s most fist-pumping lines in his State of the Union address was his brash promise to go after "the Russian oligarchs,” as he called them. "We’re joining with European allies to find and seize their yachts, their luxury apartments, their private jets,” he said. Then, wagging his finger, he addressed them directly: "We are coming for your ill-begotten gains.”
It’s the perfect Bidenist blend of common-sense populist politics and good old-fashioned American patriotism. And it’s been followed up with real policy muscle. Still, the question lingers: Isn’t this supposed to be about Ukraine?
The precipitating event for the global outpouring of anti-Russian sentiment was Russia’s outrageous and unjustified invasion of Ukraine, which has already killed, wounded and displaced millions. It is that which has mobilized the world against the country and Russian President Vladimir Putin, leading to broad sanctions and the widespread provision of arms to Ukraine, including by traditionally neutral states such as Sweden and Finland.