US President Joe Biden presents his budget for fiscal year 2023 at the White House in Washington, DC, on the 28th. UPI Yonhap News
U.S. President Joe Biden reiterated his statement that “Putin cannot remain in power”, saying it was “just a moral outrage, not a change in US policy.” However, he continued to criticize Russian President Vladimir Putin, making it clear that he did not intend to withdraw his comments.
“I am expressing the moral anger I feel towards the way Putin behaved and his actions,” Biden said in a meeting with reporters at the White House on the 28th (local time). said,” he said. He also mentioned the fact that he had met Ukrainian refugees at the time and emphasized, “I am not expressing policy change either then or now.” Still, he said, “I will not withdraw my remarks or apologize.”
In a speech in Warsaw, Poland on the 26th, Biden hit Putin and said, “Please, this person cannot continue to sit in power.” This caused a stir as the Biden administration was interpreted as having a regime change in mind in Russia. The Russian Kremlin immediately protested strongly, saying, “It is not for Mr. Biden to decide.”
President Biden said on the same day that “no one thinks I’m going to bring Putin down.” In response to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov saying, “It is the Russian people’s choice whether to change the regime or not,” he responded by saying that he did not know how public opinion in Russia would turn out.
President Biden responded by saying, “I don’t see it that way,” when he said his comments at the time could escalate tensions in Ukraine. There has never been a point that other leaders may take issue with his remarks, and he said that it would not weaken NATO. His own remarks were not a problem, and he emphasized the fact that NATO was united with the United States as an opportunity in the wake of the Ukraine crisis.
Heo Kyung-ju reporter [email protected]