AT the end of his speech in Poland, President Joe Biden said that Russian President Vladimir Putin “cannot remain in power.”
Biden had never before so directly called for a Russian power change.
This comment comes despite the White House previously saying that a regime change was not their goal.
Biden also said in his speech that “Russia has strangled democracy and sought to do elsewhere, not only in its homeland.
“Putin has the gall to say he’s ‘de-Nazifying Ukraine’. It’s a lie. It’s cynical and he knows that. It’s obscene.
“President Zelensky was democratically elected. His family is Jewish. Putin has the audacity to believe that might will make right.”
Biden’s visit to Poland is his final stop in Europe this week.
The trip offers a chance to underscore the US commitment to protect a key NATO member on Ukraine’s doorstep and to thank Poles for their generous welcome to refugees fleeing Russia’s invasion.
The two-day visit starting on Friday follows a trio of emergency war summits in Brussels.
Read our Joe Biden address live blog for the latest news and updates…
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Kremlin’s reaction to ‘butcher’ remark
According to Russian official news agency TASS, the Kremlin replied to Biden’s statements in Warsaw by saying they “narrow the window of opportunity” to heal US-Russia relations.
Dmitry Peskov told TASS, per CNN, that “the leader of a nation must keep a sober head.”
“Of course, every time these personal insults narrow the window of opportunity for our bilateral relations under the current [US] administration. One has to be aware of this.”
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Putin ‘cannot remain in power’
Biden said: “For God’s sake, this man cannot remain in power” about Putin as he finished his speech.
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‘For the long haul’
“I came to Europe again with a clear message… We must commit now to be in this fight for the long haul,” Biden says.
“It will not be easy, there will be costs, but it’s a price we have to pay.”
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Plan to get Europe through energy crisis
“We’ll work together to get that done,” Biden says.
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‘This is not who you are’
Biden says: “I am telling you the truth. This war is not worthy of you, the Russian people.”
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Message to the Russian people
“I have worked with Russian leaders for decades… I have always spoken directly and honestly to you, the Russian people.
“You the Russian people are not our enemy… Millions of families are being driven from their homes, including half of all Ukraine’s children…
“Of all people, you the Russian people, still have the memory of being in the same situation… Whatever your generation experienced… These are not memories of the past because it’s exactly what the Russian army is doing right now,” Biden said.
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Large presence
“Democracy is a world revitalized with unity in months that we once had taken years to accomplish,” said the president.
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Biden’s economic sanctions
Biden said, alluding to economic sanctions: “Swift and punishing costs is the only thing that will get Russia to change course.”
In recent days, he has been chastised for claiming that sanctions were never intended to halt the invasion, but rather to harm the Russian economy over time to convince Putin to end his military action.
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Struck by the ‘depths of compassion’
Biden thanks the Polish who have shown support and compassion throughout the conflict.
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Condemning Putin
Putin’s assertion that he is de-nazifying Ukraine is condemned by Biden, who points out that Zelensky is Jewish and that members of his family were slain in the Holocaust.
Biden reiterates what has become his foreign policy’s consistent message: that resisting Russia’s military offensive is part of a larger, global war against democracy and tyranny.
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Defending NATO
“American forces are here to defend NATO allies,” says Biden, adding that the US has a “sacred obligation to defend each and every inch of NATO territory.”
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Companies have dropped Russia
Biden lists all the sanctions the US has put on Russia as well as the many companies, even citing McDonald’s, that have cut ties with Russia.
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‘Russia has strangled democracy’
Biden speaks about Putin and his intentions regarding the conflict, calling him a liar.
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‘My message’
“We stand with you. Period,” said the president.
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Madeleine Albright
“She passed away three days ago and she fought her whole life for central-Democratic principles,” says Biden about the late secretary of state.
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‘Faith sees best in the dark’
“Nothing about that battle for freedom was easy,” Biden said about the Soviet Union, drawing a parallel between the current situation with Russia.
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‘Be not afraid’
Biden starts his speech by talking about a message of the power of “faith… resilience… people” that a previous Polish president gave.
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Biden is approaching the podium
After a 17-minute delay, President Biden finally takes the stage.
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Biden will deliver a ‘major address’
US President Joe Biden was briefed on the strike on Lviv before leaving his hotel to deliver a speech in Poland, according to CNN.
The White House has called the speech a “major address.”
There are also Ukrainian refugees in the audience assembled in front of the stage for Biden’s remarks.
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Checking in
Someone just walked up to the podium to soundcheck the microphones and sound systems, indicating that the president will likely soon speak.
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Biden calls Putin a ‘butcher’
The president talked with media after a half-hour meeting with refugees, according to Mediaite.com.
He mentioned meeting with refugee children and, in answer to a reporter’s query, stated unequivocally his feelings about Putin.
The reporter asked: ” You see this and you’re, you know, you’re dealing every day with Vladimir Putin. And you look at what he’s done to these people. What does it make you think?”
Biden responded simply, saying: “He’s a butcher.”
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Biden is about to go live
After meeting with Poland’s president and key Ukrainian officials, President Biden will soon deliver a speech in Warsaw aimed at rallying support for Ukraine.
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Sanctions against Russian companies
According to the New York Times, the Biden administration is mulling penalties against Russian enterprises that provide military equipment.
The government is currently working out the details of the newest economic sanction against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine, and an announcement is planned in the coming days.
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What did Biden tell the Polish president?
As the two leaders met at Poland’s presidential palace on the third day of Biden’s wartime diplomatic journey to Europe, he reminded the Polish president Andrzej Duda that the US considered its commitment to defend its NATO partners as a “sacred obligation.”
According to the New York Times, Biden told Duda: “America’s ability to meet its role in other parts of the world rests upon a united Europe.”
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Biden says Ukrainians have ‘guts’
In a speech given by Biden during his visit with the service members of the 82nd Airborne Division, he said: “… So, you know, with the Ukrainian people — Ukrainian people have a lot of backbone. They have a lot of guts.
“And I’m sure you’re observing it. And I don’t mean just their military, which is — we’ve been training since back when they — Russia moved into the — in the southeast — southeast Ukraine — but also the average citizen.
“Look at how they’re stepping up.”
