UNDATED (AP) German Chancellor Olaf Scholz says that neither NATO nor U.S. President Joe Biden aim to bring about regime change in Russia. Biden said of Russian President Vladimir Putin during a speech on Saturday that “this man cannot remain in power.” The White House and other U.S. officials rushed to clarify that Biden wasn’t actually calling for Putin to be toppled. Asked during an appearance Sunday on ARD television whether Putin’s removal is in fact the real aim, Scholz replied: “This is not the aim of NATO, and also not that of the American president.” Also Sunday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused the West of cowardice as his country fights Russia’s invading troops. He made an exasperated plea for fighter jets and tanks from Western allies.
