Representative Michael McCaul from Texas, the leading Republican in the House Foreign Affairs Committee, suggested that the impromptu comment threatened to overshadow discussions about how he would continue to help Ukraine in its fight against Russia. Much of Sunday’s reaction did not appear to significantly undermine the government’s relationship with its allies involved in imposing sanctions on Russia. Mr Biden had used the words “to make it clear to Putin that he must stop,” said Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio on Saturday night. Mr Biden made “a very clear speech, he used decisive words”, said Di Mayo. “But let us remember that on the other hand, Putin is using bombs.” Nadhim Zahawi, Britain’s education minister, reiterated the White House’s stance, saying he was confident both the United States and Britain had agreed that the Russian people should decide how they wanted to be governed. “The Russian people will decide the fate of Putin and his comrades,” Zahawi said. And Julian Smith, the US ambassador to NATO, suggested that Biden’s statement was a response to the human cost of the war he had seen during his three-day diplomatic trip to Europe. Noting that Mr Biden had visited refugees before his speech in Warsaw, he said his comments were “a humane reaction to principles”. However, he insisted on the “State of the Union”, “the US has no policy of regime change in Russia. Perfect.” Reporting by Jonathan Martin, Chris Cameron, Emma Bubola and Lara Jakes.
