Blinken tamps down Biden's Putin comments: US not seeking 'regime change'

Mark Moore
New York Post
Sun, 27 Mar 2022 09:07 UTC

© Jacquelyn Martin/Pool/AP.jpg

Secretary Antony Blinken

Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Sunday insisted that the US is not seeking regime change in Russia, the latest attempt by the administration to clean up President Biden's comments that President Vladimir Putin "cannot remain in power."

Blinken said during a visit to Jerusalem: "I think the president, the White House, made the point last night that, quite simply, President Putin cannot be empowered to wage war or engage in aggression against Ukraine or anyone else. As you know, and as you have heard us say repeatedly, we do not have a strategy of regime change in Russia — or anywhere else, for that matter. As in any case, it's up to the people of the country in question. It's up to the Russians."

© Piotr Molecki/East News /Polaris.jpgPiotr Molecki/East News /Polaris

President Biden called Vladimir Putin a “butcher”

Biden raised eyebrows during a speech Saturday at Warsaw's Royal Castle after he tore into the Russian leader over the Ukrainian invasion that appeared to escalate the tensions between Washington and Moscow:

"For God's sake, this man cannot remain in power. A dictator bent on rebuilding an empire will never erase a people's love of liberty. Free people refuse to live in a world of hopelessness and darkness."

The fiery address came just hours after Biden called Putin a "butcher" while he was visiting a refugee center for Ukrainians in Poland.

The White House was quick to tamp down ​the explosive comments.

​A White House official ​told reporters as Biden's motorcade ​headed to the airport in Warsaw to return to the US:

"The president's point was that Putin cannot be allowed to exercise power over his neighbors or the region. He was not discussing Putin's power in Russia, or regime change."

K​remlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said later that Biden doesn't get to decide Putin's fate. ​"​The president of Russia is elected by Russians​," he said. ​

Biden's speech came as he finished up a visit to Europe in which he pressed NATO allies to remain united in standing against Putin's aggression in Ukraine, a month after Russia sent hundreds of thousands of troops across the border into its eastern neighbor.

Comment: That many?

Putin has been accused of causing a humanitarian crisis in eastern Europe with his attack, which has targeted civilian infrastructure, including hospitals, schools, residential buildings and shopping centers.

In his speech, Biden said Putin will not prevail in Ukraine as long as Europe is united against him and the Ukrainian people defy the military onslaught. He said:

"A dictator bent on rebuilding an empire will never erase a people's love for liberty. Brutality will never grind down their will to be free. Ukraine will never be a victory for Russia — for free people refuse to live in a world of hopelessness and darkness."

Comment: Biden should take his own advice.

And while the US and its allies have imposed widespread economic sanctions on Russia and supplied weapons to Ukraine, they have not deployed NATO or American troops inside the country over fears of escalating the fighting.

Comment: If you can escalate from afar, there is no need to do it within.

Comment: Scary to think Biden has his thumb on the nuclear button!

Biden speaks to the 82nd Airborne Division:

© AP/Evan Vucci

Biden speaks to members of the 82nd Airborne Division • Jasionka, Poland

President Biden approved nearly $1 billion in military aid for Ukraine:

The new aid package includes 800 Stinger anti-aircraft systems, 2,000 Javelins, 1,000 light anti-armor weapons, 6,000 AT-4 anti-armor systems, 100 unmanned drones, 100 grenade launchers, 5,000 rifles, 1,000 pistols, 400 machine guns, 400 shotguns, more than 20 million rounds of small arms ammunition and grenade launcher and mortar rounds, 25,000 sets of body armor and 25,000 helmets.

The equipment will be transferred directly from the Department of Defense to the Ukrainian military, Biden said.

The White House makes attempts to walk back Biden remarks that Putin can't stay in power:

Much of Biden's speech involved placing blame for the Russian invasion into Ukraine directly on Putin and delivering a plea to the Russian people that they not be welcoming or supportive of the war. The comment was a particularly notable moment, however, appearing to mark a shift in Biden's thinking about Putin's position in Russia. It's unclear if the White House meant that Biden muddled his words or went off-script with his comments.

Biden at one point in his remarks declared, "It is Putin, it is Vladimir Putin who is to blame. Period." And he called the war "an example of one of the oldest human impulses, using brute force and disinformation to satisfy a craving for absolute power and control."

The president called Putin "a butcher," when asked earlier on Saturday what he thought of him for having caused the humanitarian fallout. He also on Friday reiterated his belief that Putin has committed war crimes.