"For God's sake, this man (Vladimir Putin) cannot remain in power" - This comment by the American President during his visit to Russia's neighbourhood has led to a fresh flashpoint in USA's deteriorating ties with Russia.
Joe Biden was in Poland on the 31st day of the Ukraine-Russia war, when he said that Russian President cannot be allowed to "remain in power". The comment was perceived in some quarters as USA's sign that it might cause Putin's regime to fall through covert means.
Top Russian official Dmitry Peskov reportedly reacted sharply to Biden's comment. He said, "This is not to be decided by Mr Biden. It should only be a choice of the people of the Russian Federation."
The American administration launched damage control, clarifying that Biden's comments did not mean that the Western power has a "strategy" to change the regime in Russia.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken reportedly said, "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."