Western leaders be part of veterans to mark eightieth anniversary of D-Day landings in France | EUROtoday

Issued on: 06/06/2024 – 08:11

1 min

French President Emmanuel Macron will host US President Joe Biden, the UK’s King Charles III and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, representing the Allied powers whose troops gave their lives within the landings on the Normandy seashores on June 6, 1944.

They will mirror on the immense sacrifices made by the tens of 1000’s of troops on the sandy seashores and cliffs of Normandy, usually removed from their houses, underneath intense German hearth.

But with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky becoming a member of the Western leaders in Normandy, the ceremonies will present a massively symbolic backdrop to talks on how Ukraine can acquire again floor after Russian advances.

No Russian official has been invited, underlining Moscow’s pariah standing within the West regardless of the decisive Soviet contribution to defeating Nazism in World War II.

Separate nationwide ceremonies will happen earlier than many of the leaders come collectively for a world ceremony from 1400 GMT at Normandy’s Omaha seaside joined by Zelensky and likewise German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

The most honoured friends would be the surviving veterans. Around 200 are anticipated, a quantity that’s dwindling yearly with most no less than of their late 90s and a few older than 100. This will be the ultimate main anniversary the place they’re current.

“If I could go again, I would go again. I’m glad we sacrificed so that others (could) have a good life,” John Mines, 99, who was among the many first wave of troopers on D-Day, informed AFP on the ferry crossing the Channel to the occasions.

“They’re all heroes.”

(FRANCE 24 with AFP)

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