French president Emmanuel Macron has said he will greet Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy along with other world leaders in Normandy for the 80th anniversary commemorations of D-Day.
US president Joe Biden is also scheduled to attend this year’s commemorations of the landings which led to the liberation of France and Europe from Nazi Germany’s occupation.
Dozens of Second World War veterans are expected to return, many perhaps for the last time, to Normandy’s beaches.
An international ceremony at Omaha Beach will honour the nearly 160,000 troops from the UK, the US, Canada and other nations that landed in Normandy on June 6th, 1944.
Mr Macron said during a visit to Meseberg, Germany, on Tuesday that he will elaborate on Paris’s support for Ukraine next week when Mr Zelenskiy visits.
France will “do whatever is necessary for as long as it is necessary” to support Ukraine, he said.
Canada’s prime minister Justin Trudeau is also to attend the D-Day commemorations.
Britain’s King Charles III, who continues to be treated for cancer, also plans to travel to France for the British ceremonies, while skipping the international ceremony.
His son Prince William will stand in for the king at Omaha Beach.
