Vladimir Putin’s international isolation following his unlawful invasion of Ukraine two years ago will be highlighted yet again when he is snubbed at an upcoming historic event later this year.
France has organised an international ceremony to mark the 80th anniversary of D-day, set to be attended by numerous world leaders including US President Joe Biden.
The French Presidency reportedly believes Russia should be represented at the event, given the contribution played by the Soviet Union during World War 2, as well as the high sacrifice paid by the Soviet people.
However, the Élysée has refused to extend the invitation to the president of Russia due to his ongoing war in Ukraine.
The Liberation Mission, the organising committee behind the ceremony, announced: “In view of the circumstances, President Putin will not be invited to take part in the commemorations of the Normandy landings.
“Russia will, however, be invited to be represented so that the importance of the commitment and sacrifices of the Soviet peoples, as well as its contribution to the victory of 1945, can be honoured.”
In a major jab at Putin and his propagandists who have often been accused in the past years of trying to distort history to justify the war in Ukraine, the committee added: “Unlike the Kremlin regime, France does not pursue a policy of historical revisionism.”
Organisers didn’t share details about what the Russian delegation would look like.
This isn’t the first time Putin hasn’t been invited to a similar ceremony.
The Russian President was not sent an invite to an event to mark the 75th anniversary of D-day in 2019, which was attended by high-profile guests including then Prime Minister Theresa May, Queen Elizabeth II, the then Prince Charles, Angela Merkel and Donald Trump.
However, he defiantly said the snub was “absolutely not a problem” for him, adding: “Why should they always invite me everywhere? What am I, an operetta general?”
Putin was invited to the ceremony marking the 70th anniversary of the historic day, despite the Russian annexation of Ukraine’s Crimea happening only months prior.
The Normandy landing marked the beginning of the Allied troops’ land invasion of continental Europe.
The Soviet Union played an important role in the Allied victory, fighting Nazi Germany on the eastern front and eventually pushing its troops all the way to Berlin.
More than 27 million URSS citizens died during the last global conflict – including 19 million civilians.
