“President Joe Biden’s speech in Warsaw was the most important speech of his presidency,” CNN commentators commented as they watched his speech in the courtyard of the Royal Castle. CNN also expressed surprise at the president’s words that Vladimir Putin “cannot remain in power” and quoted a text by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, PAP reported.
“This may be the most important speech he will give as president, and by far the most important at the moment,” CNN journalist Caitlan Collins said.
Both she and other commentators focused on the last sentence of Biden’s speech: “For God’s sake, he can’t stay in power.” They wondered how deliberate these words were, given that the White House has so far avoided any suggestion that its goal is regime change in Moscow.
“It was a pretty crazy moment,” reporter Phil Mattingly said, noting that Biden called Putin a “butcher” during meetings with refugees at the National Stadium.
Quoted response from Peskova
The television also cited a response from Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, who told the channel in a text message that the decision on who is in power in Russia belongs to the Russians, not to Biden.
Former US military attache in Moscow, General Peter Zwak, pointed out that during his speech, Biden addressed the Russians directly, using comparisons of the current war that were convincing to them, including. with the blockade of Leningrad.
Stanford University political scientist Larry Diamond described the US President’s speech in Warsaw as “Churchillian”, outlining the generational struggle between democracy and autocracy.