President Biden declared that Russian President Vladimir Putin “cannot stay in power” and declared the Russian invasion Ukraine a “strategic fail”, while promising continued support to the besieged Ukrainian people. Biden stated, “For God’s sake this man cannot stay in power,” during a speech before the Royal Castle in Warsaw in Poland.

This was the first time Biden explicitly called for Putin to be removed. It would also mark a stark contrast to previous statements by the White House which have stressed that regime change in Russia does not represent the policy of the United States.

The White House denied that Biden had called for regime change shortly after Biden’s speech.

“The President made it clear that Putin should not be allowed to exert power over his neighbours or the region. A White House official said to Fox News Digital that he was not talking about Putin’s Russian power or regime change shortly after the speech ended.

This comment was made at the end a speech in which he strongly condemned the Russian invasion into Ukraine. He called the aggression “nothing but a direct challenge of the rule-based international system established since the end World War II.”

He also made reference to former Polish president Lech Walesa and the Polish Pope John Paul II in his speech. However, he warned Putin about any possible move into NATO’s territory, which included Poland.

He said, “Don’t even consider moving on one inch of NATO territory.” “We have an obligation sacred under Article 5 to defend every inch of NATO territory using the full force and collective power.”

He stressed the importance and necessity of collective action, citing both U.S. and International aid to Ukraine and the sanctions against Moscow that have torpedoed Russia’s economy. He also declared that the ruble was now “rubble.” He stated that Russia’s war against Ukraine was already a strategic failure and that Putin believed the Ukrainian people would “roll over and not fight.”

Biden described the Ukraine fight as a continuation of the struggle for freedom seen in Poland’s fight against the Soviet Union and called on the international community not to lose its unity.

“We must now commit to this fight for the long-term. He said, “We must be united today, tomorrow, and every day thereafter and for the decades and decades ahead.” It will not be easy. It will not be easy. There will be costs, but they are necessary. The darkness that drives autocracy cannot match the flame of liberty that lightens the souls free people all over the world.

He had also a message to the Ukrainian people: We stand with you. Period.”

He tried to reach out directly to Russians who were opposed to Putin’s invasion.

This is not who you are. This is not the future you deserve for your family and your children. You know the truth. He said that this war was not worthy of you, Russian people.” “Putin must and can end this war. The American people will stand by you and all the Ukrainian citizens who desire peace.

About 1,000 people were there, including Ukrainian refugees fleeing for Poland. He had met refugees in Poland’s capital earlier in the day. Since the war started, more than 3.7 million people have fled Ukraine and more than 2.2million have crossed into Poland.