Biden: We will not abandon Ukraine

2024-06-06 19:40:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

The President of the United States, Joe Biden

The President of the United States, Joe Biden, has said on Thursday while marking the anniversary of D-Day, that the free world is with Ukraine and that it will not surrender to Russian aggression, drawing a parallel with the fight of the allies to liberate Europe from Nazi Germany in World War II.

The United States and NATO "will not abandon" Ukraine, Biden said during a speech in Normandy on June 6, marking the anniversary of the Allied landings in Normandy in 1944, a turning point that contributed to the defeat of Adolf Hitler. in 1945.

"Trust me: We will not bow down, we cannot give in to the bullies; it is simply unimaginable. If we do, freedom will be subjugated, all of Europe will be threatened," Biden said at the ceremony organized by French President Emmanuel Macron in honor of surviving World War II veterans.

The ceremony was attended by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, King Charles III of Great Britain and other heads of state and other dignitaries.

Neither Russian President Vladimir Putin nor any official from Russia was invited to attend the ceremony.

"Ukraine is occupied by a tyrant. They are fighting with incredible courage, they are suffering great losses, but they are never giving up," said Biden.

The American president praised NATO as "the greatest military alliance in the world" and said that it "is more committed than ever before to maintaining peace."

Drawing a comparison to World War II, Biden said that "isolating America was not the answer 80 years ago and it is not the answer today," a reference to some Republican politicians who are skeptical of American support for Ukraine.

"We must remember that the fact that they were heroes here that day does not absolve us from what we must do today. Democracy is never guaranteed. Each generation must preserve it, must protect it and fight for it. This is the test of the ages", he emphasized.

The ceremony was held near Omaha Beach, the code name for one of two landing sites where US troops suffered more than 2,500 casualties – more than half of the total Allied casualties on the Day. D.

D-Day was the largest amphibious assault in history, involving 156,115 troops from 12 countries.

In a post on social networks, Zelensky said that "this event and today are a reminder of the courage and dedication shown for the sake of freedom and democracy."

"Allies defended the freedom of Europe then, Ukrainians defend the freedom of Europe now. Unity won then, real unity is able to win now," Zelensky wrote.

Zelensky is expected to talk with Biden and Macron during his stay in France./ REL