Kremlin says it鈥檚 not for Biden to say if Putin stays in power

By: 3 years ago

Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a meeting with officials and cultural workers, including young holders of prizes for cultural achievements, via a video link in Moscow, Russia March 25, 2022. Sputnik/Mikhail Klimentyev/Kremlin via REUTERS

LONDON 鈥� The Kremlin dismissed a remark by U.S. President Joe Biden on Saturday that Vladimir Putin 鈥渃annot remain in power,鈥� saying it was up to Russians to choose their own president.

Asked about Biden鈥檚 comment, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Reuters: 鈥淭hat鈥檚 not for Biden to decide. The president of Russia is elected by Russians.鈥�

READ: Biden says 鈥榖utcher鈥� Putin 鈥榗annot remain in power鈥�

A White House official said Biden, who was speaking in Warsaw, had not been calling for 鈥渞egime change鈥� in Russia but his point was that 鈥淧utin cannot be allowed to exercise power over his neighbors or the region鈥�.

Peskov did not immediately respond to a follow-up request for reaction to the White House clarification.

Biden has stepped up personal attacks on Putin since the Russian president ordered the invasion of Ukraine last month, and the Kremlin has replied by questioning the U.S. leader鈥檚 state of mind.

Last week it accused Biden of making 鈥減ersonal insults鈥� towards Putin after he labeled him a 鈥渨ar criminal鈥� and a 鈥渕urderous dictator鈥�, and said his remarks appeared to have been fuelled by irritation, fatigue and forgetfulness.

Dmitry Rogozin, the outspoken head of the Russian space agency Roscosmos, suggested mockingly on social media that the clarification of Biden鈥檚 latest remarks had come from the White House medical unit.

Rogozin has previously derided what he called 鈥淎lzheimer鈥檚 sanctions鈥� imposed on Russia by the United States over the war in Ukraine, which Moscow calls a special military operation.

黑料社