Russian President Vladimir Putin is not among world leaders marking the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landing, despite the Soviet Union’s inclusion among the Second World War allies.
In May, French President Emmanuel Macron ruled that no Russian representatives would be invited, building on an earlier decision to allow Moscow to send some representatives – just not higher officials — given Russia’s historic role in defeating Nazi Germany.
The war on the Eastern Front, known in Russia as the Great Patriotic War, cost the Soviet Union more than 25 million military and civilian lives – more than any other country lost during the war. The allied war against Nazi Germany ended with the fall of Berlin to the Red Army in 1945.
The last time Putin attended D-Day commemorations was in 2014 for the 70th anniversary of the 1944 landings, hosted by former French President Francois Hollande. That appearance was clouded by Russia’s annexation of Crimea and the ceremony was the scene of an impromptu meeting between former US President Barack Obama and Putin.
The decision to not invite Russia comes as Putin ramps up his rhetoric around a global conflict and warns of the potential use of nuclear weapons. On Wednesday, the Russian president warned Western countries they’re taking a “very serious and dangerous step” by supplying weapons to Ukraine, which could result in Moscow arming their enemies.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is at the commemorations and will be meeting with world leaders, including US President Joe Biden.
