The memo: Biden is trying to withdraw his gift to Putin

President BidenJoe BidenPelosi: ‘I fear for our democracy’ If Republicans win Jan. 6 House votes to advance Navarro contempt case, Scavino Biden’s ‘careless remark’ on Putin incense GOP MORE may have Russian President Vladimir Putin to hand overVladimir Vladimirovich PutinHouse Oversight investigates Credit Suisse ties to Russian oligarchs Biden’s ‘careless remark’ about Putin outrages GOP Leon Panetta: ‘We all share the moral outrage that Putin is MORE a gift – and now he’s trying to take it back .

Biden appeared to be playing into Putin’s hands with his unwritten claim during a major speech Saturday in Warsaw, Poland, that the Russian president “can’t stay in power.”

For many people, the words sounded like a call for regime change in Moscow. And as such, they fitted far too well with Putin’s frequent claims that he and his nation are the target of Western conspiracies and aggression.

The comment might at least raise suspicions among Russians that the West has a more expansionary agenda than simply repelling the invasion of Ukraine. At worst, the remark could even strengthen their willingness to stand by Putin amid heavy sanctions and international shame.

Biden’s initial remark sparked a scuffle that has lasted two days.

The White House now sees the controversy overshadowing other domestic issues, such as the release of the president’s budget on Monday.

The task of cleaning up the mess has fallen to Biden himself.

“I expressed the moral outrage I felt … [at] the actions of this man,” Biden told reporters Monday in the State Dining Room of the White House. “I wasn’t there then and I’m not articulating a change of policy today either.”

A moment later, an irritated Biden told Fox News’ Peter Doocy, “No one believes I spoke about bringing down Putin. Nobody believes that.”

These comments followed Foreign Minister Antony BlinkenAntony BlinkenLeon Panetta: ‘We All Share Moral Outrage Over Putin’s Balance/Sustainability – Musk’s Starlink Now Backs Ukrainian Military Strikes Kremlin calls Biden’s Putin statement ‘alarming’ MORE’s claim over the weekend that ‘we have no strategy for regime change’ Russia or anywhere else for that matter.”

US Ambassador to NATO Julianne Smith also joined the cleanup on Sunday, telling CNN’s State of the Union that Biden had expressed a “basic human reaction” after meeting Ukrainian refugees in Poland .

And long before that, an unnamed White House official claimed shortly after the end of Biden’s Warsaw speech: “The President’s point was that Putin must not be allowed to exercise power over his neighbors or the region. He wasn’t talking about Putin’s power in Russia or regime change.”

There were early signs that the White House could start turning the tide on Monday.

Richard Haass, the president of the Council on Foreign Relations, emailed this column that he thought the comments were “a good way to refine and, more importantly, overcome a problem.”

“By making it clear that Saturday’s remarks did not constitute a change in policy, today’s statement provides the President and Administration with the flexibility and space to conduct whatever foreign policy toward and diplomacy with Russia is required to advance Ukraine.” or to deal with other matters.” Haas added.

Haass was previously among the foreign policy experts most critical of Biden’s initial comment in the Warsaw speech, warning in a tweet that “Putin will see this as confirmation of what he has believed all along. Serious failures of discipline that risk prolonging the scope and duration of the war.”

But if Biden’s cleanup on Monday mollified figures like Haass, it seems likely Republican elected officials will be less generous.

On Sunday Senator Rob PortmanRobert (Rob) Jones PortmanThe Hill’s Morning Report – Biden: ‘No’ policy on regime change in Russia Biden’s Putin remark, White House faces scrutiny GOP senator says Biden’s speech was ‘strong’ despite slip-up at the end MORE (R-Ohio ), told NBC’s Meet the Press that Biden’s comment was “a mistake” that “plays into the hands of Russian propagandists and Vladimir Putin.”

Same day Senator Jim RischJames Elroy RischSunday Previews: US, Allies Increase Pressure on Russia; Jackson undergoes confirmation hearings Five things to note during Biden’s trip to Europe Lawmakers skeptical of Biden’s efforts to revive Iran nuclear deal MORE (R-Idaho) admitted to CNN that Biden’s overall address in Warsaw was “a good one.” speech,” but added, “There was an appalling faux pas right at the end. I just wish he stayed in the script.”

On Monday, following Biden’s recent comments, a spokesman for the Republican National Committee emailed reporters to brand the White House event as “an insult to the American people.” The spokesman, Tommy Pigott, complained about Biden that “he chose to deny reality rather than take responsibility.”

Of course, there are many Americans who will welcome Biden’s remarks, given Putin’s long history of belligerent behavior and the severe suffering inflicted on the Ukrainian people since the February 24 invasion of Moscow began.

There is an argument for moral clarity – and for the idea that Biden’s comment was simply a statement of the obvious. Everyone knows that Biden and other Western leaders would prefer a less autocratic and aggressive figure than Putin in the Kremlin.

“He shouldn’t stay in power, just like bad people shouldn’t keep doing bad things. But that doesn’t mean we have a basic policy to do anything to bring Putin down in any way,” Biden told CNN’s Kaitlan Collins at the White House event Monday. “This is just a simple fact that this type of behavior is totally unacceptable.”

However, Biden knows as well as anyone that Ukraine is unlikely to secure a clear military victory in its fight against Russia.

This means that the only successful conclusion to the conflict must involve negotiations – a process in which Putin will perhaps be the most important player.

In this context, it’s hard to dispute that Biden’s Warsaw remarks were a misstep — and one that Moscow immediately exploited to the best of its ability.

Russia’s leadership “is not Biden’s business,” a Kremlin spokesman said over the weekend. “The Russian President is elected by the Russians.”

The memo is a column by Niall Stanage.