Putin not invited to 75th D-Day anniversary
Russian President Vladimir Putin has not been invited to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Allied invasion of Normandy in World War II, also known as D-Day, Ukrinform reports.
“Large-scale festivities and commemorative events on the 75th anniversary of the start of the Normandy Operation, or the Allied Operation Overlord in World War II, will be held in the south of England on 5 June and on 6 June on the coast of French Normandy,” the article states.
Other countries that participated in the Normandy Operation will be sending high-level representatives: the USA, Canada, France, Australia, New Zealand, Belgium, Poland, Norway, Denmark, the Netherlands, Greece, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, and Germany.
However, for the first time since 2004 (when the 60th anniversary of D-Day was commemorated), Russian President Vladimir Putin has not been invited, despite the fact that he did attend the 70th anniversary of D-Day in 2014, even after the occupation of Crimea and the start of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.
This year the primary commemorative events, which will be held in the British city of Portsmouth and on the coast of Normandy, France, will be attended by British Prime Minister Theresa May, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, and US President Donald Trump.
London has announced that this year the event will be one of the largest British military demonstrations, featuring 26 authentic World War II aircraft and at least 11 ships.
The Allied landing in northern France in Operation Overlord was the largest seaborne invasion in history. It began on 6 June 1944 and lasted until 1 July.