French President Emmanuel Macron responded to Joe Biden’s unscripted remarks about regime change in Russia by saying that he “wouldn’t use such words,” and warned against escalation.
The White House has since corrected the president and said that regime change is not the official policy, the second time they had to correct him in as many days.
Biden’s assertion that Putin is a “butcher” who “cannot remain in power” drew widespread concern and anger across the globe.
On Sunday, when asked about Biden’s remarks, Macron stopped just short of outright condemning him.
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Speaking to France 3, Macron said that his goal is “achieving first a ceasefire and then the total withdrawal of [Russian] troops by diplomatic means.”
“If we want to do that, we can’t escalate, either in words or actions,” Macron asserted.
Macron stressed that while the US is a vital ally, and share many “common values”, it is the Europeans who live next to Russia.
Kremlin press secretary Dmitry Peskov also responded to Biden’s unplanned commentary by noting that the president cannot seem to control his temper or emotions.
“A national leader has to keep a cool head,” Kremlin press secretary Dmitry Peskov said, adding that “personal insults narrow the window” for diplomacy.
Vyacheslav Volodin, president of the lower house of parliament, added that “Biden is weak, sick and unhappy.”