"They will come with threats and tanks": Zelenskyy reacts to Russian invitation to the anniversary of the Normandy landings

Recently, France announced that it had invited a Russian delegation to the 80th anniversary of the Allied landings in Normandy during World War II, but without Russian dictator Vladimir Putin. In Ukraine, the organizers of the Mission Libération commemorative events reacted to this step by claiming that such "legalization" of the aggressor is an encouragement to commit new murders and genocide.

Therefore, Russia should be invited to any event only if you really want the aggressor to come – with threats and tanks, as it has been doing for decades. Mykhailo Podoliak, an advisor to the head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, wrote about this in his profile on the X network.

He reacted quite sharply to the news that the organizers of the commemorative events for the anniversary of the Normandy landings had decided to send an invitation to Russia, albeit without Putin, who will not receive an invitation due to Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

"I will repeat the axiomatic things... I understand that some people would like to return to the "sweet pre-war time" where they were a little afraid of Russia, but actively and profitably did business with it, exchanged venal smiles, and attended each other's pretentious events. But no. This will not work. Because today the Russian Federation has thrown off all the decorative masks, put a grimace of hatred back on its face, and just wants to kill, attack, destroy," Podoliak wrote.

He emphasized that those who, turning a blind eye to reality, tolerate the aggressor, not only push him to commit more crimes that he is committing right now but also invite him to new atrocities.

"Any invitation from Russia to any event (summits, celebrations, games, discussions) is always aimed at stimulating aggression, encouraging murder, and maximizing the genocidal component of war. This should be realized when one really wants to see the face of the aggressive "Russian world" that demonstrably insults modern humanistic civilization with its actions. Then they will definitely come – with threats and tanks," Podoliak emphasized.

Operation Neptune, or the Normandy landings, was an amphibious assault that took place on June 6, 1944, in Normandy during World War II by the Allied forces of the United States, Great Britain, Canada, and others against Nazi Germany.

Recently, the Mission Libération, which organizes commemorative events to mark the anniversary of the Normandy landings, announced its intention to invite Russia to the 80th anniversary of the operation.

"Given the circumstances (Russia's war against Ukraine – Ed.), Putin will not be invited. Russia, however, will be invited to be represented because of its role and sacrifices among the Soviet peoples, as well as its contribution to the victory of 1945," they explained.

As a reminder, French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne said that "it is not in France's interest to talk to Russia." He made this comment after a telephone conversation between French and Russian officials voiced various versions of the terrorist attack at the Crocus City Hall concert hall with more than a hundred victims. As a result of this conversation, the French were once again convinced that Moscow is not above telling outright lies.

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