Vladimir Putin is not on the guest list, but Russian representatives have been invited to take part in WWII anniversary ceremony.
France’s decision to invite Russia to attend the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings has stoked tensions with allied nations as leaders prepare to gather on the Normandy beaches on June 6.
Last month, Paris caught Western countries off guard when D-Day organizers announced they were extending an invitation to Moscow even as Russia launches a fresh offensive on Ukraine. Officials from the United Kingdom and two other World War II allies expressed concerns over the move, raising questions ranging from the symbolic nature of the occasion, protocol issues and queries about diplomatic engagement with Russian representatives.
A U.K. government official said that France’s actions — not only the D-Day invitation but also hosting Chinese President Xi Jinping this month and sending a representative to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s inauguration — were “disturbing.”
Sanctioning Russia should take any and all forms until they stop their assault on Ukraine. They’ve made it clear that they’re not acting in good faith, so extending that to them is five steps short of appeasement.
Sanctions are not doing shit.
From what I’ve understand, sanctions have slowed Russia down significantly.
They may still be able to get the things they need, but it’s costing them more than it would have to do so.
This is a country that thought they could steamroll Ukraine in weeks and have now been stuck in the war for years.
Feels to me like sanctions did a lot to help tbh.
From people directly in Russia they are largely unaware there are sanctions because it hasnt impacted them. Russia was one of only 3 counties that saw positive wage grown during covid and have held on to that growth. Wages outpaced inflation.
Sure,
But what would they have experienced without sanctions? Presumably a higher wage growth, no?
No?
We can keep them indefinitely then, right? If they’re not doing anything there is no need to ever revoke them.
It doesn’t matter, it is a reflection that the US no longer has a stranglehold on world economies
Clearly not; I just meant that we should at the very least not be weakening the spirit of the sanctions even in the slightest by sending Russia diplomatic invitations to events.
I think you might mean “Sanctions alone will not do shit, Ukraine needs shells, planes, tanks and unfortunately more bodies.”