Russia’s change of government will be “for the Russian people”, said cabinet minister in the government of Boris Johnson following anger over US President Joe Biden’s clear request for Vladimir Putin to be removed from office.
The White House has slammed the US president’s decision to back down, insisting that Biden did not want a coup d’etat when he said Putin “could not continue to be in power”.
Asked if the UK government agreed with Joe Biden that Vladimir Putin “could not continue to rule”, Nadhim Zahawi said: “I think that is for the Russian people.”
Pressured further about the US president’s comments on a change of government, the secretary of education told Sky News’ Sophy Ridge On Sunday: “The illegal invasion of Ukraine and should end, and I think that’s what the president was talking about.”
Frustrated and if Mr Biden was wrong to say what he did, Mr Zahawi said: “No, what I am saying to you is that the White House is very clear on this, the president has given a very strong statement on this.”
He added: “I think the United States and the United Kingdom agree that it is up to the Russian people to decide who should be in charge.
The Cabinet minister said the Russians “are very tired of what is happening in Ukraine, this illegal attack, the destruction of their lives, their economy is falling apart”, adding: “I think the Russian people will decide the fate of Putin and his friends.”
Mr Zahawi also backed Foreign Secretary Liz Truss’ view that sanctions would not be lifted in Russia until the full withdrawal of Ukrainian troops.
He told Sky News: “It should be. Any peace agreement should take into account the aspirations of the free people of Ukraine.
“I think Russia’s illegal invasion should end and the Russian army should leave Ukraine, and it is up to the Ukrainian people, who should be the ones to decide what that peace looks like.”
Ms Truss said sanctions against Russian oligarchs, banks and businesses could be lifted if Putin put an end to his attacks and pledged “no more attacks”.
Ms Truss told the Sunday Telegraph that a “negotiating unit” had been set up at the Foreign Office to facilitate peace talks – but warned that the threat of “punishment” would be kept in view if the Russian president attacked again.
The White House slammed Biden’s remarks in Poland on Saturday. “Thanks to God, this man will not be able to continue his rule,” the US president said in a statement.
But a White House official tried to argue that the US president was making the point that the Russian leader “is not allowed to exercise power over his neighbors or the region …
The Kremlin responded: “It is not up to Biden to decide. The Russian president is elected by the Russians. ”
Many people will sympathize with the sentiments that led to Biden saying Putin “could not continue to be in power”, said outgoing Labor MP Dame Margaret Beckett.
Dame Margaret said: “I like what we saw in Joe Biden. I know you get a lot of criticism but you hit me like someone who has strong emotions and likes to just talk about it.
“I’m sure his staff and the people around him are right to say that America does not want a change of government, but at the same time I think a lot of people will sympathize with the feelings that led him to say what he did.”