"Biden's Remarks Targeting Putin: 'No More Power Should Be Held' Stir Controversy"

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy New York=Special Correspondent Joselgina] Aftermath continues over U.S. President Joe Biden's remarks targeting Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The statement that "(President Putin) should no longer remain in power" has come under scrutiny as it deviates from the U.S. administration's stance of not pursuing an artificial regime change in Russia. While remarks such as 'butcher' and 'murderous dictator' are being evaluated as highly diplomatic statements aimed at uniting allies against Russia, there are also suggestions that they might be slip-ups driven by heightened emotions.

On the 26th (local time), The New York Times (NYT) reported that even among allied European countries, reactions to Biden's recent remarks about President Putin are mixed with both rejection and admiration.

On the final day of his European tour, in Poland, a country bordering Ukraine, President Biden stated, "this man cannot remain in power." This was an impromptu comment that had not been prepared or coordinated in advance, leading major foreign media outlets to widely analyze whether it implied a call for regime change in Russia.

On the same day, shortly after meeting Ukrainian refugees, President Biden described President Putin as a 'butcher.' Previously, he had referred to him as a 'murderous dictator' and a 'war criminal.'

Biden's expressions toward President Putin have become increasingly harsh recently. Charles Kupchan of the think tank Council on Foreign Relations told the NYT that Biden's various messages "are directed at Putin with the message that Europe must unite as one," adding, "the encouragement to keep fighting is aimed at Ukrainians, while the message to remain calm is directed at Europeans."

This is explained as strategic remarks aimed at European and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) allies. Italy's Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio said, "He used words that clearly convey that President Putin must stop," calling it "a very clear speech, firm words." Some foreign media, including CNN, noted that just before Biden's 'power' related remarks, he was informed about bombings in Lviv, western Ukraine, which helped create the atmosphere for such comments. Julianne Smith, U.S. Ambassador to NATO, told CNN that Biden's reaction was a human response to what he heard from Ukrainian refugees.

However, criticism has also poured in. First, Biden's remarks themselves are seen as crossing a line by implying regime change in another country. Dmitry Peskov, spokesperson for the Kremlin, strongly opposed, saying, "That is not for Mr. Biden to decide. It is solely the choice of the Russian Federation's people."

French President Emmanuel Macron, when asked about Biden's 'butcher' remark in a broadcast interview, said, "I would not use such words," emphasizing that careful word choice is necessary to stop Russia. Tobias Ellwood, a British Conservative Member of Parliament, pointed out that "it is up to the Russian people to decide," calling Biden's remarks unwise.

Some express concerns that Russia could exploit Biden's remarks to its advantage. There are also evaluations that it has made it harder for countries like Turkey and China to mediate and persuade President Putin to stop. Aaron David Miller, senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, told The Washington Post (WP), "In many ways, a single word overshadowed the intent of the speech," adding, "It seems like a genuine mistake from the heart."

The White House quickly moved to contain the situation. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, visiting Israel, explained, "It means that President Putin was not granted the authority to wage war or invade Ukraine," and clarified, "We do not have any strategy for regime change in any country."

WP reported, "During a 27-minute speech, President Biden made a stunning statement demanding President Putin's resignation in just nine impromptu words," adding, "Those nine words triggered a global uproar."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.