The Élysée: Russia Not Invited to Normandy Landing Anniversary Celebrations

The Élysée Palace announced that "Russia has not been invited to the commemorations of the 80th anniversary of the Normandy landings on June 6, due to its aggressive war in Ukraine." The palace clarified that "there will be no Russian delegation. This critical contribution will be acknowledged through various gestures, particularly at the cemeteries where Russian soldiers are buried in France, as part of the celebration program on June 6." However, the organizing committee indicated that Russia will be invited at a different level, in recognition of the Soviet Union's contribution on the Eastern front to the victory over Nazi Germany. During his visit to Germany earlier this week, French President Emmanuel Macron announced that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will attend the Normandy landing anniversary celebrations. President Vladimir Putin was invited to the 60th anniversary celebrations in June 2004 alongside former French President Jacques Chirac, and then to the 70th anniversary celebrations in 2014 despite Russia's annexation of Crimea.