BBC:
Ukraine: No Russia regime change plans, says Blinken
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has denied that the United States has any plans to bring about regime change in Russia or anywhere else.
Mr Blinken’s comments come a day after President Joe Biden said his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, should not be allowed to remain in power.
Mr Biden made the unscripted remark at the end of a speech in Poland.
…
This was clearly an attempt at rolling back – the concern is that this is going to put more pressure on Putin and make him more uneasy.
Given that he is the head of a country that is struggling militarily, and is in control of a nuclear arsenal, the concern on the Americans‘ part is that they don’t want to back Mr Putin into a corner.
Calling out for regime change directly could cause instability and increase unpredictability.
And the last thing you want in these circumstances is unpredictability.
Mr Biden’s comment prompted strong criticism from veteran US diplomat Richard Haass.
The comments „made a difficult situation more difficult and a dangerous situation more dangerous“, tweeted Mr Haass, who is president of the US Council on Foreign Relations.
„That is obvious,“ he added. „Less obvious is how to undo the damage, but I suggest his chief aides reach their counterparts & make clear the US is prepared to deal with this Russian government.“
Mr Haass returned to the subject after the White House qualified President Biden’s remarks, saying: „The White House walk back of @POTUS regime change call is unlikely to wash.
„Putin will see it as confirmation of what he’s believed all along. Bad lapse in discipline that runs risk of extending the scope and duration of the war.“
The hubris in the language here is impressive.