President Joe Biden made an impassioned call for the United States to show global leadership by backing Israel and Ukraine, saying in a speech from the Oval Office on Thursday that defeating Hamas and Russia was a vital US interest, AFP reports.

Biden, 80, said he would make an “urgent” request to Congress today for funding to help Ukraine and Israel, arguing that this was an investment for the United States’ future on the world stage for decades to come.

Hamas and Russian President Vladimir Putin “represent different threats, but they share this in common: They both want to completely annihilate a neighbouring democracy,” he added.

“We cannot and will not let terrorists like Hamas and tyrants like Putin win. I refuse to let that happen.”

“We can’t let petty partisan angry politics get in the way of our responsibility as a great nation,” said Biden said, with the Stars and Stripes and a flag of the US presidential seal behind him. “America is a beacon to the world. Still. Still,” he said.