Russia will not be invited to the 80th anniversary of the landing of the Allied forces in Normandy because of its aggression in Ukraine.
Source. This was reported by Reuters with reference to two anonymous diplomats.
Earlier, the organisers said that only Vladimir Putin would not receive an invitation, while the Russian delegation would be able to take part in the celebrations.
The presence at the anniversary of Putin, who sent Russian soldiers to Ukraine two years ago, would create an uncomfortable atmosphere for some other countries in the bloc, diplomatic sources said, citing reasons against the Russian invitation.
‘If there is a person, there is a problem. If there is no person, there is no problem,’ Reuters quoted its source as saying, citing Joseph Stalin's remarks on the situation.
Joe Biden and Volodymyr Zelenskyy are expected to attend the events dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the Allied landings in Normandy on 6 June 1944. Vladimir Putin was also not invited to the 75th anniversary of the landings in Normandy in 2019.
Background. As reported, Volodymyr Zelenskyy will arrive in France on the day of the event in honour of the Allied landings in Normandy.
This was announced by French President Emmanuel Macron: ‘I will have the opportunity, when President Zelenskyy goes to France next week, to receive him and then to speak very precisely to announce that we are going to do more to support Ukraine,’ he said.