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President Joe Biden on Saturday framed the war in Ukraine as the battle of a generation in the fight for democracy as he sought to rally the world's support behind the embattled nation.
Speaking in Warsaw, Poland, before a crowd that included Ukrainian refugees, Biden also blasted Russian President Vladimir Putin and called on the Russian people to choose a different path for their own country, and urged Europe to end its dependence on Russian gas.
In a comment during the speech, which a source familiar with the situation said was not part of prepared remarks, Biden said Putin "cannot remain in power."
“That’s not for Biden to decide," Putin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told Reuters.
The White House quickly responded to say Biden was not discussing a regime change, and instead meant Putin "cannot be allowed to exercise power over his neighbors or the region."
Hours earlier, several rockets struck the western Ukrainian city of Lviv in what officials said were two separate attacks 45 miles from the border with Poland.
The powerful explosions frightened a city that had been a haven for hundreds of thousands of people fleeing the Russian assault on other parts of Ukraine.
The regional governor, Maxym Kozytsky, said on Facebook that preliminary indications were five people had been injured in the first attack but did not specify what the two rockets hit. Hours later, he reported three more explosions outside the city, again with no details.
Invasion could spell end to Russian culture in Ukraine, Zelenskyy says
One of the casualties of the deadly Russian invasion of Ukraine will be Russian culture itself within the nation's borders, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a video address Saturday.
Though Russian is the nation's second language, spoken by the president and nearly one third of the country, Zelenskyy argued that when the dust settles, Ukrainians will reject all things Russian.
Zelenskyy noted that Russian has been a part of daily life in the cities that are now under siege.
"Russia itself is doing everything to ensure that de-russification takes place on the territory of our state," the president said, according to his office's English translation of his remarks. "You are doing it. In one generation. And forever."
U.K. says Russia is launching air attacks from farther distances
The U.K.'s defense ministry said Saturday it appears Russia is facing major challenges in its offense from the skies.
In an intelligence update the ministry said Russia's invasion has been hampered by moves to protect its aircraft from being shot down by Ukrainian troops. Russia has been relying on munitions launched from greater distances to avoid Ukrainian air space, it said.
The result is that its air-based weapons are striking intended targets at a lower rate and its stock of its more sophisticated sky-dependent weapons is depleting, the ministry said. Citing U.S. intelligence, it said Russia is seeing 60 percent failure rates for its long-distance attacks by air.
Nonetheless, the U.K. ministry said, Russia continues to rely on aircraft and missile forces in attacks on the country's largest cities.
In his nightly address, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Saturday continued to ask the United States and NATO for air defense hardware, including planes.
Zelenskyy repeats call for planes for Ukraine's defense
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that, amid measured success holding off an invasion by one of the world's best-equipped militaries, Ukraine has too many guns and not enough planes and other tools for air defense.
The remarks, translated into to English by his office, were made in a video address Saturday in which Zelenskyy continued to ask NATO and the United States for better air defenses against Russian forces that have allegedly wrought indiscriminate destruction of military and civilian targets alike. Russia has denied targeting civilians.
"Ukraine cannot shoot down Russian missiles using shotguns, machine guns, which are too much in supplies," Zelenskyy said. "And it is impossible to unblock Mariupol without a sufficient number of tanks, other armored vehicles and, of course, aircraft."
The president said 1 percent of NATO planes would help the country beat back Russia, but he suggested the Western alliance was afraid to challenge Russian President Vladimir Putin.
"So who runs the Euro-Atlantic community? Is it still Moscow because of intimidation?" Zelenskyy said.
The U.S. rejected Poland's proposal to make its Soviet-era fighter jets available to a U.S. base in Germany for possible handover to Ukraine because it is believed Putin will see supplying planes — as well as the imposition of a no-fly zone — as an act of direct aggression.
Zurich Insurance removes Z symbol after letter used to show support for war
ZURICH — Zurich Insurance has removed its Z logo from social media after the letter became a symbol of support in Russia for Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.
The company said it was removing the logo - a white Z on a blue background - because it did not want to be misinterpreted as supporting Russia in the conflict.
"We're monitoring the situation closely and will take further actions if and when required," the company said, following a report by The Telegraph newspaper in England.
The letter Z has been used as a marking on Russian military vehicles taking part in the conflict and has been adopted by Russians supporting the war, with it being prominent on flags and at pro-Kremlin rallies.
Zurich Insurance said earlier this month that it was no longer taking on new domestic customers in Russia and will not renew existing local business.
Biden says Putin 'cannot remain in power,' the White House says otherwise
WARSAW — In a carefully crafted speech aimed at rallying the world’s support for Ukraine, it was an ad-libbed line that caught the Kremlin’s attention.
“For God’s sake, this man cannot remain in power,” Biden said of Russian President Vladimir Putin — an attention-grabbing line a source familiar with the situation said wasn’t included in the prepared remarks.
As some noted the comment sounded like a call for regime change in Russia, the White House quickly issued a statement saying otherwise.
“The President’s point was that Putin cannot be allowed to exercise power over his neighbors or the region. He was not discussing Putin’s power in Russia, or regime change,” said a White House official in a statement sent widely to reporters.
But the Kremlin was quick to seize on the remark. “That’s not for Biden to decide," Putin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told Reuters. "The president of Russia is elected by Russians.” Russia has for years accused the U.S. and its allies of attempting to carry out regime change in its country.
Read the full story here.
Russian deputy denounces war in Ukraine at packed council meeting
U.S. to give additional $100M to Ukraine in civilian security assistance
The United States plans on providing an additional $100 million to Ukraine in civilian security assistance to help the country beef up its border security, safeguard critical government buildings and maintain civil law enforcement functions, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Saturday.
The money will go toward field and tactical gear, armored vehicles, medical supplies, personal protection equipment, and communication equipment for the Ukrainian State Border Guard Service and the National Police of Ukraine.
"With the U.S. government’s vital assistance, Ukrainian law enforcement officers are playing a key role in rescuing victims of the Russian government’s brutal assault, leading and protecting convoys of those displaced by attacks, and providing security to civilian areas torn apart by ruthless and devastating bombing," a news release states.
"The United States continues to stand with the community of nations backing the people and government of Ukraine as they defend their democracy and country."
Blinken goes on to say that Russia's attack on Ukraine was "unprovoked" and "unjustified."
"We continue to urge Putin to end the violence, reign in his forces, including those who have committed war crimes, and choose the path of peace and diplomacy. We are committed to pursuing accountability for war crimes and other atrocities using every tool available, including criminal prosecutions," the news release states.
Biden remark that Putin 'cannot remain in power' draws swift rebuke from Kremlin
WARSAW, Poland — President Joe Biden's comment Saturday in reference to Russian President Vladimir Putin remaining in power has drawn a swift rebuke from the Kremlin and comments from the White House seeking to clarify the remark.
"For God's sake, this man cannot remain in power," Biden said at the conclusion of his address delivered at the Royal Castle in Warsaw.
According to a source familiar with the President’s remarks and who reviewed those remarks before they were delivered today, the President’s last line was ad-libbed, according to NBC News' Kristen Welker and Kelly O'Donnell.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov spoke directly to Reuters saying, "That's not for Biden to decide. The president of Russia is elected by Russians."
A White House official asserted that Biden was “not discussing Putin’s power in Russia or regime change.” The official, who was not authorized to comment by name and spoke on the condition of anonymity, said Biden’s point was that “Putin cannot be allowed to exercise power over his neighbors or the region.”
