Vladimir Putin: Russian leader banned from France D-Day celebrations as organisers say he is 'not invited'

The Liberation Mission organising committee said Russia could be represented at the ceremony, but that Mr Putin himself would not be invited to take part due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The official ceremony will take place on June 6 on Omaha beach, Normandy, one of the five beaches used in the D-Day landings – a key event in the victory of the Allied forces against Nazi Germany.

Russia fought in the Second World War on the side of the Allies, losing more than 27 million people during the war – with 8.7m military and 19m civilian deaths. The organising committee said: “In view of the circumstances, President Putin will not be invited to take part in the commemorations of the Normandy landings.

Get a daily digest of news from around the globe with The World Explained newsletter

“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.”

The committee added: “France does not pursue a policy of historical revisionism.”

Mr Putin was invited to take part in the 70th-anniversary celebrations, ten years ago, despite having annexed the Ukrainian territory of Crimea shortly before. However, he was not asked to attend the 75th-anniversary event, which the Elysee said at the time was not unusual as it was not a major decade celebration.

At the time, the-then French president François Hollande said: “You can have differences of opinion with Vladimir Putin, but I have never forgotten and never will forget that the Russian people gave millions of lives.”

In addition to the official event attended by world leaders, a programme of other celebrations will take place over a period from March to October 15, including synchronised fireworks at the major D-Day sites, a picnic on Omaha Beach, liberation balls, bagpipe parades and international parachuting of hundreds of soldiers above Sainte-Mère-Église.

Neither the Russian embassy in Paris nor the Kremlin have commented on whether Russia will take up the invitation to attend the event.