Before France's announcement on Thursday, two sources said the war in Ukraine and concerns among some allies about Moscow's presence had forced Paris to change its initial thinking.

"Russia was not invited. There are no conditions for its participation given the war of aggression launched in 2022, which has only intensified in recent weeks", the official said.

A second official quoted former Soviet leader Joseph Stalin to describe the decision not to invite Russia: "When there is a man, there is a problem. When there is no man, there is no problem".

• On April 16, France confirmed that Russia would be invited to the 80th anniversary of the Allied landings in Normandy on June 6. The Kremlin responded in a characteristically humiliating manner.
• Later, they explained the decision to invite the Russian delegation to the celebration by the "long history" of relations with Russia.
• French President Emmanuel Macron said that on June 6, Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy would pay a visit to his country on the occasion of the day of the Allied landings in Normandy and announced his meeting with the Ukrainian leader.