Joe Biden and Emmanuel Macron used the 80th anniversary of D-Day as an opportunity to rally support for Ukraine, with Volodymyr Zelenskiy receiving a warm welcome from Western leaders in Normandy.
During his speech at the American commemorative event, President Biden sent a strong message to Moscow, asserting that the US and its allies “will not bow down” and will “stand for freedom.”
“To surrender to bullies, to bow down to dictators, is simply unthinkable,” Biden declared at the American cemetery in Normandy.
“If we were to do that, it means we’d be forgetting what happened here on these hallowed beaches.”
Biden emphasized the necessity of supporting Ukraine to prevent its subjugation and the broader threat to Europe.
He described Russian President Vladimir Putin as a “tyrant bent on domination” and reaffirmed the value of fighting for freedom and democracy.
Later, Zelenskiy and his wife, Olena, attended an international event on Omaha Beach, where they were warmly received by the crowd and fellow leaders.
Biden is scheduled to meet Zelenskiy in Paris on Friday.
President Macron, during his tribute, praised Ukraine’s courage, leading to a standing ovation from the assembled leaders.
The UK Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, was absent, opting to return to London for the election campaign.
However, Keir Starmer attended and discussed Ukraine’s situation with Zelenskiy.
“Thank you to the Ukrainian people for their bravery.
We are here and we will not weaken,” Macron said, drawing applause as French fighter jets performed a flypast.
He underscored the importance of honoring those who landed on D-Day by opposing those who seek to change borders by force.
Macron addressed Zelenskiy directly, who was seated between Czech President Petr Pavel and European Council President Charles Michel, emphasizing the significance of his presence.
Russian representatives were not invited to the Normandy commemorations due to the ongoing war in Ukraine. In St. Petersburg, Putin downplayed the omission, stating, “let them celebrate without us.”
Throughout the events, support for Ukraine was evident. Zelenskiy, embraced by a US veteran, was told, “You’re the saviour of the people.”
Zelenskiy responded, “No, you saved Europe … You are our hero.”
At the British Normandy memorial in Ver-sur-Mer, King Charles highlighted the continuous need to defend freedom.
“Again and again across the decades, free nations must stand together to oppose tyranny,” he said.
Biden drew the most direct connection between the historic D-Day events and the current conflict in Ukraine.
He reminded attendees that the heroism of the past does not absolve the present generation from defending democracy.
“We must remember that the fact that they were heroes here that day does not absolve us of what we have to do today,” Biden said. “Democracy is never guaranteed.
Every generation must preserve it, defend it and fight for it. That’s the test of the ages.”
In a veiled critique of Donald Trump’s “America first” policies, Biden asserted, “Isolationism was not the answer 80 years ago and is not the answer today.”
Trump, while sharing his own D-Day message on social media, praised US soldiers as “immortal heroes.”
Prime Minister Sunak’s absence at the international commemorative event, delegating the task to Defence Secretary Grant Shapps, drew criticism from Nigel Farage, the leader of the Reform Party, who questioned Sunak’s decision to prioritize the election campaign over the D-Day event.
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