Biden's comments on Putin alarming, says Kremlin

MOSCOW, Mar 28 (AFP): The Kremlin on Monday expressed concern after US President Joe Biden called the Russian leader Vladimir Putin a "butcher" over his military operation in Ukraine.

"This is a statement that is certainly alarming," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters during his daily press briefing.

"We will continue closely monitoring statements of the US president," Peskov added.

During a visit to Poland on Saturday, Biden dubbed Putin "a butcher" who "cannot remain in power".

The White House later scrambled to deny he was seeking "regime change" in Moscow, while the Kremlin said Biden's words could harm bilateral relations.

Meanwhile, President Joe Biden sought to clarify his call for the removal of Vladimir Putin, saying he wasn't seeking regime change after European allies raised concern and critics said he was further inflaming tension with Russia, reports Reuters.

French President Emmanuel Macron and the U.K. government distanced themselves from Biden's stunning comment, which capped a speech in Warsaw to rally support for Ukraine against Russia. One administration official suggested Biden was influenced by stories of suffering he heard from Ukrainian refugees.