In the pursuit of a ceasefire, "the situation must not escalate, either in words or in deeds," the French president said after Biden called Putin a "butcher."
French President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday distanced himself from comments made by US President Joe Biden, who called Vladimir Putin a "butcher" who "cannot stay in power," Politico reported
Speaking to France 3 television, Macron said he was focused on diplomatically helping to broker a ceasefire between Kiev and Moscow, which would be followed by the complete withdrawal of Russian troops.
"If we want to achieve this, we cannot escalate either in words or in actions"
Macron said.
Biden reportedly went off script during a speech in Poland on Saturday:
"For God's sake, this man cannot stay in power"
- said Biden, after which the Kremlin spokesman warned that personal insults do not help bilateral relations much.
US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken has since said that it is not true that Washington is seeking regime change in Russia.
Macron's comments echoed in Britain: British Education Minister Nadhim Zahawi told Sky News that the Russian people should decide who will lead them.
"I think it depends on the Russian people" -
Zahawi told the broadcaster when asked if Downing Street thought Putin should step down. But Russia's continued aggression in Ukraine, as well as the crippling sanctions of Western nations, may play a role in who will be the leader in Russia, the education minister added.
"The Russian people, I think, are pretty fed up with what's happening in Ukraine, this illegal invasion, the destruction of their own livelihoods, their economy collapsing around them, and I think the Russian people will decide the fate of Putin and his cronies," he said.
"Regime change" in Russia is not American policy
the US ambassador to NATO said on Sunday.
Ambassador Julianne Smith told Fox News Sunday that Biden's remarks in Poland were not aimed at calling for the overthrow of President Vladimir Putin in Russia.
He added: “But I think we all agree that President Putin cannot be authorized to go to war. He attacked Ukraine in a premeditated, unprovoked conflict".
