US President Joe Biden has denied that he was calling for regime change in Russia when he said "Putin cannot remain in power."

Biden was asked by reporters on Sunday if he was calling for a regime change in Russia. He said in response, "No."

Biden made the controversial comment about the Russian president in Poland on Saturday, as he wrapped up his European tour. He embarked on the tour to rally support for Ukraine.

A Russian government official reacted sharply to Biden's remark. He said that it is not up to the US president to decide who will remain in power in Russia.

French President Emmanuel Macron said that Russia's invasion should be stopped without an escalation in words or actions. He also said that he would not use the words Biden used.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken told reporters on Sunday that the president simply meant Putin should not be empowered to wage war. He added that the US government does not have a "strategy of regime change in Russia or anywhere else."

The US government apparently does not want to provoke Russia or make the situation worse.