Blinken says US is not seeking regime change in Russia

Jerusalem, Mar 27 (EFE).- The United States is not seeking a regime change in Russia, Antony Blinken said Sunday during a visit to Jerusalem.

The US secretary of state was attempting to row back remarks during a fiery speech by president Joe Biden in Warsaw on Saturday night when he said Vladimir Putin “cannot remain in power.”

“I think the president, the White House, made the point last night that, quite simply, President Putin cannot be empowered to wage war or engage in aggression against Ukraine or anyone else,” Blinken told a press conference.

“As you know, and as you’ve heard us say repeatedly, we do not have a strategy of regime change in Russia or anywhere else, for that matter. In this case, as in any case, it’s up to the people of the country in question. It’s up to the Russian people,” he added.

Blinken is currently paying a visit to Israel where he has met with prime minister Naftali Bennett, president Isaac Herzog, defense minister Benny Gantz and foreign minister Yair Lapid.

Later in the day, he was due to meet with Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas.

The US top diplomat praised Israel’s mediating efforts between Russia and Ukraine, as well as the humanitarian aid provided to injured Ukrainians at the Israeli field hospital that was established inside Ukrainian territory.

Other issues were also subject to discussion, such as the progress made in the negotiations to salvage the Iranian nuclear agreement, which Washington promotes but Israel opposes.

During his joint press conference with Blinken, Bennett said that he was hopeful the US would listen to the “concerned voices” from the region on the Iranian matter, stressing that a difference of opinion cannot spoil the unshakeable US-Israeli alliance.

The press conference was held shortly before the beginning of the historic Negev Summit, which will include Blinken, Lapid and the foreign ministers of the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco and Egypt.

The unprecedented meeting marks a new milestone in Israeli relations with its regional neighbors after the signing of the Abraham Accords in August 2020, establishing diplomatic relations with UAE, Bahrain and Morocco. EFE

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