World leaders and veterans mark 80th anniversary of D-Day in France

As the war in Ukraine continues to rage, this year’s commemoration of a key turning point in World War II has special significance.

(Al Jazeera) – Veterans and world leaders gathered in Normandy, France, to mark the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings on June 6, 1944, when more than 150,000 Allied soldiers arrived in France by sea and air to drive out the forces of Nazi Germany.

With war raging in Ukraine, this year’s commemoration of this key turning point in World War II holds special significance. Russia, which launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, was not invited.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced his arrival in France for Thursday’s ceremony in a post on the X website, saying: “This event and this day are a reminder of the courage and determination shown in the pursuit of freedom and democracy.”

“The allies defended Europe’s freedom then, and Ukrainians are doing the same now. Unity prevailed then, and true unity can prevail today,” he added.

US President Joe Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, British King Charles and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, as well as many other politicians, attended the commemorations, which began at a British ceremony in Vers-sur-Mer, England, at around 08:30 GMT.

Arromanches-les-Bains was one of the beaches where the Allies landed 80 years ago, and as the tide receded Thursday morning, a small crowd of people streamed onto the beach.

They were joined by a group of World War II jeeps, and later by an amphibious vehicle carrying a bagpiper, who played a melancholy tune.

With the number of veterans dwindling rapidly, many of them 100 years old or older, this may be the last major ceremony in their honor in Normandy.

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