Biden says remark on Putin's power was about 'moral outrage', no change in U.S. policy

"For God’s sake, this man (Mr. Putin) cannot remain in power," Mr. Biden had said last week

U.S. President Joe Biden on Monday said that his weekend comment in Europe that his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin “cannot remain in power” was a moral outrage for his invasion of Ukraine, and that does not reflect any change in American policy with respect to regime change.

As such, Mr. Biden refused to apologise for his comments, on which his administration has been having a tough time in explaining over the past few days.

“I'm not walking anything back. The fact of the matter is, I was expressing the moral outrage I felt toward the way Putin is dealing ..., which is just brutality, half the children of Ukraine. I just come from being with those families,” Mr. Biden told reporters at the White House .

“But I want to make it clear, I wasn't then nor am I now articulating a policy change. I was expressing the moral outrage that I feel and I make no apologies for it,” he said when asked about his remarks last week in Europe where he had gone to shore up his allies and show solidarity with the people of Ukraine.

"For God’s sake, this man (Mr. Putin) cannot remain in power," Mr. Biden had said last week.

Responding to questions, Mr. Biden said the escalatory efforts of Mr. Putin to continue and engage in carnage... “The kind of behavior of that that makes the whole world say, My God, what is this man doing?”

"He (Mr. Putin) is going to become a pariah worldwide and who knows what he becomes at home in terms of support,” said the U.S. President.