Joe Biden told reporters he was expressing “moral indignation” when he said Vladimir Putin “could not remain in power,” but that did not reflect a change in US policy.
Biden made the startling comment at the end of a speech in Poland on Saturday, and reporters were quick to hail the comment as further progress in the US approach to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
But the White House released a statement shortly after the speech to clarify that Biden was not calling for regime change.
In response to questions from reporters, Biden denied that the White House had “retracted” his statement, saying it was an expression of “my personal feelings”, especially after meeting refugees fleeing his native Ukraine, among others. Russian attacks.
“He was talking to the Russian people and telling them what we were thinking,” Biden said.
Biden also criticized a question from Fox News correspondent Peter Duss and denied making a number of discounts on the same trip. “That’s how you explain the language,” Biden said.
The president also said he was not worried that his statement would complicate US policy or increase tensions with Putin.
“People need to understand that he will do what he thinks he will do,” Biden said, adding that it was “irrational” to think the comments would have such an impact on the Russian leader.
“It’s ridiculous. Nobody believes he was talking about overthrowing Putin. Nobody believes it,” he said.
Speaking in Warsaw, Biden said: “Ukraine will never be a victory for Russia, because free people refuse to live in a world of despair and darkness, with a different future, a bright future based on democracy and the principle of hope and light, decency and dignity. Freedom and opportunity. For God’s sake, this man can’t stay in power. “However, as many media outlets quickly turned their attention to Biden’s statement as a call for Putin’s resignation, which would be a significant change in U.S. policy, the White House quickly released a statement explaining what I meant.
“The president’s goal was to prevent Putin from exercising power over his neighbors or the region,” a White House spokesperson said. “He did not consider Putin’s power over Russia or regime change.”
Source: Deadline
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