Reuters. Leaders gave a roaring applause to World War Two veterans as they arrived in wheelchairs at an international commemoration ceremony for the D-Day landings on Thursday (June 6) on Omaha Beach.
On June 6, 1944, more than 150,000 Allied soldiers invaded France by sea and air to drive out the forces of Nazi Germany, coming ashore at five beaches codenamed Omaha, Juno, Sword, Utah and Gold or dropping from the sky.
With war raging in Ukraine on Europe's borders, the anniversary of this turning point in World War Two carries special resonance. It takes place in a year of many elections, including for the European Parliament this week and in the U.S. in November.
Leaders were set to adopt on Thursday a declaration saying democracy was once more under threat in Europe and promising to defend freedom and democracy, two sources said.
United State President Joe Biden made an impassioned call for the defense of freedom and democracy at the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings in Normandy on Thursday (June 6), urging Western powers to stay the course with Ukraine and not surrender to Russian tyranny.
At a joint ceremony with French President Emmanuel Macron and U.S. veterans at the Normandy American Cemetery, Biden said it was "simply unthinkable" to surrender to Russian aggression and he promised no let-up in support of Ukraine. He urged Western and NATO allies to recapture the spirit of D-Day and work together at a time when he said democracy was under greater threat than at any time since the end of World War Two.
On June 6, 1944, more than 150,000 Allied soldiers invaded France by sea and air to drive out the forces of Nazi Germany, coming ashore at five beaches codenamed Omaha, Juno, Sword, Utah and Gold or dropping from the sky.
Biden said it was the highest honour to salute the assembled U.S. veterans, turning away from the podium to tell them: "God love ya." With war raging in Ukraine on Europe's borders, the anniversary of this turning point in World War Two carries special resonance. It takes place in a year of many elections, including for the European Parliament this week and in the U.S. in November.
Critics fear former President Donald Trump, if re-elected atfer a head-to-head with Biden in election, could reduce U.S. support for Ukraine.
