Regime change in Russia is not NATO’s objective, despite Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said Sunday, a day after US President Joe Biden branded Vladimir Putin a “butcher” who “cannot remain in power”.
Having denounced the Russian president as a “butcher” for his invasion of Ukraine, Biden said at the end of the speech: “For God’s sake, this man cannot remain in power.”
“Democracy, freedom and justice have a future everywhere,” said Scholz on Sunday.
“But it’s for the people and to nations to fight for this freedom,” he added.
Scholz’s comments follow remarks earlier Sunday by French President Emmanuel Macron, in which he warned against verbal “escalation” with Putin.