Kamala Harris, Vice President of Kamala avoided answering President Joe Biden’s last weekend call for Russia to change its regime. Instead, she gave a non-answer on Friday’s MSNBC.
Harris (57) dodged Joy Reid’s questions about whether the Vice President ‘agreed with Biden’ that Vladimir Putin shouldn’t be Russia’s leader.
Biden, aged 79, said an outlandish comment in Warsaw (Poland), appearing to demand a change of regime in Moscow. Biden said that the shock comments were not policy changes but his personal opinion.
The unscripted remark, which the White House scrambled to walk back as the Kremlin expressed fury, came at the end of an otherwise resolute and fiery speech rallying the free world to unite in opposition to autocracy and support Ukraine.
Now, the VP finds herself in the hot seat about what she thinks, telling Reid Friday: ‘Listen, I think you frame the point quite accurately and well, which is America’s policy has been and will continue to be focused on the real issue at hand.’
She stated that the Ukrainian people needed humanitarian and security aid and warned that Putin could face consequences for his invasion.
She continued, “There are severe consequences for Vladimir Putin’s aggression in Russia as it relates Ukraine.”
The Vice President avoided answering directly on Putin’s personal opinions, instead focusing on the “impacts” the Biden administration had on Russia. This included imposing sanctions.
“Which is the reason why our policy has from the beginning been about ensuring there will be real costs against Russia in terms of severe sanctions which have a real effect, both the immediate and the long-term impact. This is about saying that there will be consequences and accountability when you commit atrocities like he is doing,’ she continued. Reid eventually asked her. She replied that she was not interested in regime change.
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Harris (57) avoided answering Joy Reid’s MSNBC question on the VP, asking her if she agreed with Biden’s statement that “Vladimir Putin shouldn’t be the leader Russia’s”. She avoided giving her real opinion it, instead she highlighted her recent travels around Europe and how the US is helping Ukraine in the war
Joy Reid, MSNBC’s Joy Reid (pictured), tried to get a response form Harris. But the VP kept his cool and stated that he was not interested in regime change. Period.’
She continued to babble about her recent European travels, as well as Biden – whom she called an ‘extraordinary leader’ – and how she’s been to France and Poland and more, to discuss the war with world leaders.
Harris stated, “I’ll tell you, when I sit down with presidents or prime ministers, sometimes the first thing they’d say to me was thank you to America and this administration”
Elle then spoke of how the U.S. created the coalition to revitalize the relations between NATO Allies and America, and their’relationship with the EU and its importance to Ukraine.
‘Which is ultimately about one of the most important principles we’re fighting for, the importance of sovereignty territorial integrity,’ Harris said.
Reid did not push for the VP to give a clear answer immediately, but later asked again, “So, no luck in getting you to weigh-in on whether or not he should stay?”
Harris responded, “Listen, I’m very clear. Let me be very specific.” Harris replied, “We don’t support regime change. That is not our policy.” Period.’
Biden, who is 79 years old, said an unintentional remark last week in Warsaw (Poland) that seemed to suggest he was calling for regime changes in Moscow. Biden stated that his shocking remarks were not intended to change policy but was an opinion.
Both women discussed the long-term effects of sanctions.
Harris was asked whether the Trump administration would place sanctions against Russia while Putin remains in power. He said that the sanctions were ‘intact’.
“We will upgrade them, making them more severe when necessary. We are witnessing atrocities that are beyond our comprehension.
“We see maternity hospitals being bombarded. A location clearly marked as a refuge, safety zone for children is being bombed. We are seeing… millions of people being displaced, potentially permanently, in a war that was instigated, unprovoked, unjustified, against a whole population of people.’
France’s President Emmanuel Macron is a strong ally of the U.S. and has spoken often with Putin after the invasion. He warned last month that the West should not ‘escalate’ in words or action – as this could hamper vital humanitarian efforts like the evacuation of Mariupol, the city devastated by the Ukrainian war.
In an interview with France 3 broadcaster, he warned against an increase in conflict. He stated that he is very focused on brokering a peaceful deal between Kyiv/Moscow and an end to war.
Macron declared on Sunday, “I would not use that type of language since I continue to hold talks with President Putin.” “We are determined to end the Russian-led war in Ukraine. We don’t want any escalation. That’s our objective.
Richard Haass of the Council on Foreign Relations also expressed concern over the comments made by Biden. He said that the US had just expanded its war-making goals and called for regime change.
Harris did say that humanitarian and security assistance were the ‘needs of the Ukrainian people’ and that Putin would face a consequence for the invasion
Harris was also reluctant to speculate on the future. However, Harris stated that the sanctions were ‘intact’ and wouldn’t comment on whether or not they would stay intact while Putin is at power.
Haass wrote that despite being desirable, we cannot accomplish it. He also warned against the risk of Putin seeing this as a fight for survival, increasing his likelihood to reject compromise or escalate or either one.
‘Our interests are to end the war on terms Ukraine can accept & to discourage Russian escalation. He said that today’s demand for regime change was inconsistent with these ends.
Haass told Politico that an official from Biden, perhaps even Secretary of State Antony Blinken should immediately reach out to their Russian counterpart and tell them that Biden’s comments don’t represent U.S. policies.
Haass stated that “The fact it was so off script in certain ways makes it worse.” He suggested it as Biden’s true belief, as opposed to his scripted words.
Biden’s comment could reduce Putin’s desire to compromise, and make him more inclined to escalate in Ukraine. Haass stated that if Putin believes he can lose everything, then it will be harder for him to believe he doesn’t have anything to lose.