The event was followed by the world leaders’ attendance at the 80th anniversary of the D-day landings in Normandy on Thursday
read more
French President Emmanuel Macron welcomed US President Joe Biden as the POTUS commenced his highly anticipated official state visit to France. The visit was kick-started with a poignant ceremony at the Arc de Triomphe.
The event was followed by the world leaders’ attendance at the 80th anniversary of the D-day landings in Normandy on Thursday. During Biden’s visit, the two leaders are expected to discuss the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war and the crisis in Gaza, The Guardian reported.
The French and the American presidents are also expected to hold talks regarding global security and the strengthening of Nato, and policy issues including the climate crisis and naval cooperation.
Macron and Biden welcome the rescue of hostages
On Saturday, the leaders oversaw the placing of a large wreath at the flame of the unknown soldier underneath the Arc de Triomphe before observing a minute’s of silence. Afterwards, Biden’s vehicle was accompanied back down the Champs-Élysée by the mounted Republican Guard.
While conducting a press briefing on the same day, both Biden and Macron welcomed the news of four hostages being rescued by the Israeli army in Gaza. “We won’t stop working until all the hostages come home and a ceasefire is reached,” Biden said. He also reiterated his warning that if Russia triumphed “Putin would not just stop at Ukraine. All of Europe would be threatened.”
Similar sentiments were echoed by Biden during the D-day commemoration. “To surrender to bullies, to bow down to dictators, is simply unthinkable,” Biden said in a speech 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. We will not walk away because if we do, Ukraine will be subjugated and it will not end there. Ukraine’s neighbours will be threatened, all of Europe will be threatened,” the US president added, describing Vladimir Putin as a “tyrant bent on domination”.
He maintained that democracy is “worth fighting and dying for”. Ukraine have been calling on its western allies to provide more military resources to the war-stricken nation. On Friday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned the French parliament that 80 years after D-day, the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 meant Europe was “unfortunately no longer a continent of peace”.
“Can this war end on the lines that exist now? No. Because there are no lines for evil: not 80 years ago, not now. And if someone tries to draw temporary lines, it will only give a pause before a new war,” he added.
With inputs from agencies.