The French government has ordered an about-face and won’t invite Russia to participate in ceremonies next week marking the 80th anniversary of the World War II D-Day landings in Normandy.
Tensions have soared between Moscow and the West since Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the invasion of Ukraine two years ago.
In a move that sparked consternation among Western allies, the government of French President Emmanuel Macron said recently that, while Mr. Putin would not be invited to the June 6 commemoration, there would be a government representative from the Kremlin to mark Russia’s contribution to the defeat of the Nazis.
President Biden and Britain’s King Charles III will be among the dozens of dignitaries and heads of state attending the D-Day events in northern France. Also expected is Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
“These are not the right conditions for [Russia] to be included, given the war launched in 2022, which has only intensified in recent weeks,” a spokesman for the French government told reporters in Paris Friday.
Western officials have largely shunned World War II commemorative events held in Russia in recent years, notably the annual May 9 Victory Day parade in Moscow.
Kremlin officials shrugged off the D-Day snub, saying they were too busy preparing for next year’s 80th anniversary of Victory Day.
“This is our main priority in terms of memorial actions,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters in Moscow, adding that the idea of Russia represented at the Normandy ceremonies hadn’t even been discussed.
“No official visit was planned,” he said, according to the official Tass news agency. “Actually, we have had no contacts of any type on this issue.”
• David R. Sands can be reached at dsands@washingtontimes.com.
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