PARIS — Russia said Tuesday it has not yet received an invitation to the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings, despite France having said it would invite Russia to the commemorations.
“This information keeps periodically appearing, citing either officials in Paris or local French media,” Maria Zakharova, Russia’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, told Russian media Izvestia. “Literally every other day I double-check this information with our French ambassador. For now there is no change,” she continued.
Zakharova said it wasn’t the first time that World War II was used as “manipulation” and the “subject of political games” for Western countries.
The invitation to Russia is fast becoming a diplomatic conundrum for France as world leaders prepare to gather on the beaches of Normandy on June 6. POLITICO reported last week that several World War II allied nations were not thrilled about France’s decision to invite Russia.
Last month, Mission Libération, the organizer of the commemorations, confirmed that while Russian President Vladimir Putin was persona non grata due to the war in Ukraine, Russian representatives would be invited to the ceremony.
The Soviet Union lost 27 million lives in World War II and Russia has in the past been invited to war commemorations in France.
But with Russian forces renewing their offensive in northern Ukraine, American and British officials have shared their unease at the inclusion of Russian representatives. Last week, two White House officials told POLITICO they were not pleased with the gesture.
“We would defer to the government of France, which organizes the commemoration at Normandy,” one of the officials said. “But perhaps this will remind the Russians that they actually fought real Nazis once, not imaginary ones in Ukraine.”
The Elysée Palace declined to comment for this story and Mission Libération was not immediately available for comment.
Eva Hartog contributed reporting.