At the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings in Normandy, France, US President Joe Biden urged Western powers to stand firm against Russian aggression and not surrender to tyranny.
He made this call during a joint ceremony with French President Emmanuel Macron and US veterans at the Normandy American Cemetery.
Biden emphasized the importance of democracy and the need for Western and NATO allies to work together in the face of current threats.
He also rejected the idea of isolationism and promised continued support for Ukraine.
On June 6, 1944, over 150,000 Allied soldiers invaded France during the Normandy landings, with around 200 surviving veterans attending the recent commemoration.
This was likely the last major ceremony honoring the veterans in their presence.
U.S. President
Joe Biden paid tribute to the veterans, expressing gratitude and acknowledging their sacrifices.
World leaders applauded and greeted the veterans as they arrived at the international commemoration at Omaha Beach.
The veterans, some in wheelchairs, smiled proudly and saluted.
These heroes knew the value of fighting and dying for worthwhile causes.
At the 76th anniversary of D-Day in Normandy, leaders including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte showed respect to veterans in wheelchairs by kneeling during their interactions.
The anniversary holds significance as Ukraine faces ongoing conflict and elections in Europe and the US are approaching, raising concerns about US support for Ukraine under former President
Donald Trump.
Zelensky and his wife received a warm welcome, and he exchanged greetings with other world leaders.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, French President Emmanuel Macron, and British King Charles III paid tributes to the Allied forces who defended Europe during World War Two and drew parallels to Ukraine's current fight against Russian aggression.
Macron and Zelensky spoke at the D-Day commemoration in France, while King Charles addressed a British event.
They called for unity among world leaders to combat tyranny, with Russia, which invaded Ukraine in 2022, not invited to the events.
In a speech, French President Emmanuel Macron paid tribute to the Red Army and Soviet soldiers for their role in defeating Nazi Germany.
Leaders were set to adopt a declaration reaffirming the commitment to defend democracy in Europe.
Thousands of soldiers from Allied nations, including the US, Britain, and Canada, as well as Germans and civilians, were killed during the Normandy invasion.
Macron awarded the Legion d'Honneur to US veterans at a ceremony in Colleville-sur-Mer, acknowledging their sacrifice and welcoming them as "home." During a British ceremony, veteran Joe Mines' words were read out by actor Martin Freeman.
Mines expressed his respects to those who lost their lives in war and expressed that he was only 19 and innocent when he was involved, having little understanding of war and killing at the time.