Joe Biden Says Vladimir Putin Can Stay in Power if He Leaves Ukraine
President Joe Biden has said that Russian President Vladimir Putin could remain in power if he leaves Ukraine and argued that his forces could simply leave the country.
Biden spoke to CNN's Jake Tapper on Tuesday, and the host asked him if Putin had an offramp from the conflict that began on February 24, in what Russia dubbed a "special military operation."
The U.S. and its Western allies have imposed harsh sanctions on Russia and provided Ukraine with support including military equipment as the country battles Putin's forces.
Tapper asked Biden if there was a way for Putin to leave Ukraine without seizing territory in a way that would be acceptable in the Russian president's mind.
"I don't know what's in his mind. Clearly, he could leave. He could just flat leave, and still probably hold his position together in Russia," Biden told Tapper.
The president said that Putin might be able to convince the Russian people "that this something that he thought made sense, but now he's accomplished what he wanted to do, and it's time to bring Russians home."
Biden also said he wouldn't meet with Putin at the upcoming G20 summit, except to discuss the release of imprisoned WNBA star Brittney Griner, 31, who is held in Russia.
Newsweek has asked the White House and the Russian foreign ministry for comment.
Russian military reversals in Ukraine have raised questions about whether Putin can stay in power without winning some kind of victory.