Zelenskyy to meet Biden and Macron in France for 80th anniversary of D-Day, Russia not invited - highlights

The New Voice of Ukraine

6 June 2024 at 3:17 am·3-min read

French soldiers at Normandy coast at Omaha beach American landing, with US ships behind them during a historical reconstruction of the event jointly with the USA, June 4, 2024

World leaders including Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy are in France on June 6 to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Allies landing in Normandy - one of the key operations that changed the tide of World War II.

Commemorative events will be held for three days, from June 5-7.

French President Emmanuel Macron will gather world leaders on the Normandy coast on June 6.

Memorial events will be held in Saint-Laurent-sur-Mer — not far from where the Americans landed on Omaha Beach.

The United Kingdom's King Charles III, U.S. President Joe Biden, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and Zelenskyy are among the world leaders attending the ceremony.

The event will take place exactly 10 years after the 2014 celebrations of Normandy landings gave a start for so-called Normandy format - ultimately fruitless attempts to settle the war launched by Russia against Ukraine through the mediation of Germany and France.

French officials did not invite Russia to the celebrations this year, instead meeting with Zelenskyy on the sidelines of official events.

Zelenskyy will have a bilateral meeting with Macron on June 7, where the French President is expected to officially announce Paris' plans to deploy French instructors in Ukraine.

Zelenskyy will also meet with French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu. They will visit the KNDS plant near Paris, where artillery ammunition is produced for Ukraine.

Zelenskyy will also meet with Biden.

The U.S. President combined his trip to Normandy with his first state visit to France, the main part of which will be held on June 8.

The talks between Macron and Biden will come ahead of a series of summits, including those of the G7 and NATO leaders, where Russia's war against Ukraine will be high on the agenda.

The 80th anniversary of Normandy landings

The main international celebrations in Normandy are scheduled for 4:30 p.m. EET.

Dozens of the last living American World War II veterans arrived in France to participate. They were personally welcomed by France's First Lady, Brigitte Macron.

This year's celebrations may be the last where the heroes of Normandy participate, considering their age.

<span class="copyright">REUTERS/Benoit Tessier</span> — REUTERS/Benoit Tessier

100-year-old veteran of the British Royal Air Force, Bernard Morgan, arriving in France, salutes his fallen comrades before a memorial service at the Bayeux military cemetery in Normandy, June 5, 2024.

<span class="copyright">Aaron Chown/Pool via REUTERS</span> — Aaron Chown/Pool via REUTERS

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