President Joe Biden's apparent call for Vladimir Putin's exit reverberated instantly around the world, sparking an administration rush to course-correct -- and risks scrambling US efforts to rally a united front on the Ukraine conflict.
Biden's comment that the Russian president"cannot remain in power" -- delivered in Warsaw at the close of three days of marathon diplomacy -- was termed"a horrendous gaffe" by one Republican senator.And even France's president warned such language could"escalate" a conflict the United States and its NATO allies have sought at all costs to contain, and undercut Western efforts to help suffering Ukrainians.
The White House sprung immediately into action, clarifying within minutes that Biden was not advocating"regime change" in Russia. When asked by reporters Sunday if that was what he was calling for, the president replied:"No." Joe Biden's administration said his comments about Vladimir Putin were a 'human reaction to the stories that he had heard' during an emotional visit with Ukrainian refugees in POlandThe administration sent out the US ambassador to NATO, Julianne Smith, to underscore the same message -- stating across multiple TV networks that"the US does not have a policy of regime change towards Russia, full stop.
As noted by a senior Republican lawmaker, Senator Jim Risch, the remarks ran 180-degrees counter to the Biden administration's constant efforts until now to stop the conflict from escalating.- Reputation for gaffes - Oksana Markarova, Ukraine's ambassador to the United States, told NBC's"Meet the Press":"Anyone who's a war criminal, who attacks a neighboring country, who's doing all these atrocities... definitely cannot stay in power in a civilized world."
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
UKRAINE LIVE UPDATES | Rockets strike Ukraine's Lviv as Biden says Putin 'cannot remain in power'US President Joe Biden described Russian leader Vladimir Putin as a butcher who 'cannot remain in power' after meeting Ukrainian refugees in Poland, as Kremlin forces stepped up attacks across Ukraine, including the western city of Lviv.
Read more »
Biden says Putin 'cannot remain in power' after 'strategic failure' in UkraineBiden urged Russians to blame Putin for the heavy economic sanctions imposed by the West.
Read more »
Putin is a ‘butcher’ who ‘cannot remain in power’, says US President Joe BidenUS President Joe Biden castigated Vladimir Putin over the month-old war in Ukraine, bluntly calling the Russian leader 'a butcher' who 'cannot remain in power'.
Read more »
War in Ukraine | Biden meets top Ukrainian ministers in WarsawLater on Saturday, Joe Biden is due to visit a reception centre for refugees and give a major speech on the conflict.
Read more »
Biden to call on 'free world' to stand against Putin in Poland speechUS President Joe Biden will argue in a speech in Poland on Saturday that the “free world” opposes Russia's invasion of Ukraine and that there is unity among major economies on the need to stop Vladimir Putin, the White House said.
Read more »
Biden to call on 'free world' to stand against Putin in Poland speechUS President Joe Biden will argue in a speech in Poland on Saturday that the “free world” opposes Russia's invasion of Ukraine and that there is unity among major economies on the need to stop Vladimir Putin, the White House said.
Read more »