US President Joe Biden on Wednesday began a state visit to France to mark 80 years since the World War II D-Day landings.
Air Force One touched down at Paris Orly Airport and the US leader was received by French Prime Minister, Gabriel Attal. His visit is expected to end on Sunday.
Along with French President Emmanuel Macron, British King Charles III and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Biden will on Thursday pay tributes to the heroism of the Allied troops who sacrificed their lives far from home in the landings on June 6, 1944, to free Europe from Nazi occupation.
While the sacrifice of Allied soldiers takes centre stage, the ongoing war in Ukraine will certainly be in the conversation amongst several European leaders who will be attending.
Ukrainian leader, Volodymyr Zelensky is scheduled to meet with Biden.
While German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Italian President Sergio Mattarella will be present as a sign of international post-World War II reconciliation, no official from Russia has been invited after Paris rescinded plans to host lower-level representatives in recognition of the Soviet Union’s immense contribution to World War II.