Russian President Vladimir Putin is not among world leaders commemorating the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings, despite the Soviet Union's inclusion among World War II 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 (but not high-level officials), given Russia's historic role in the defeat. of 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, on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the 1944 landings, organized by former French president Francois Hollande. That appearance was tarnished 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 not to invite Russia comes as Putin steps up his rhetoric around a global conflict and warns about the possible use of nuclear weapons. On Wednesday, the Russian president warned Western countries that they are taking a “very serious and dangerous step” by supplying weapons to Ukraine, which could result in Moscow arming its enemies.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is present at the commemorations and will meet with world leaders, including US President Joe Biden.
