President Joe Biden has vowed to not “surrender to the bullies” as he praised D-Day veterans for their bravery at a commemorative event.
The US President addressed the crowd in Ver-sur-Mer, France, on the 80th anniversary of the landings as he promised the 50 countries standing with Ukraine “will not walk away”.
“Make no mistake the autocrats of the world are watching closely to see what happens in Ukraine. To see if we let this illegal aggression go unchecked,” he said.
“To surrender to bullies, to bow down to dictators is simply unthinkable.”
He added: “History tells us freedom is not free. You want to know the price of freedom come here to Normandy to look.”
It comes after King Charles delivered an emotional speech in which he praised the “remarkable wartime generation” and unflinching bravery of the Normandy landings veterans.
The monarch said: “It is with the most profound sense of gratitude that we remember them and all who served at that critical time.”
He added that it was a “great privilege” to attend the events and that the D-Day veterans were sadly “becoming ever fewer in number”. The King’s powerful words left a number of veterans in tears.
What D-Day events are happening today?
- The King, Queen and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to attend the UK’s national commemorative event at the British Normandy Memorial, Ver-sur-Mer.
- The Prince of Wales will attend the Canadian commemorative ceremony at the Juno Beach Centre, Courseulles-sur-Mer.
- The Prince of Wales will join more than 25 heads of state and veterans from around the world at the official international ceremony at Omaha Beach, Saint-Laurent-sur-Mer.
- Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh to attend Royal British Legion’s service of remembrance at the National Memorial Arboretum.
- 80-strong boat Flotilla parade in Falmouth. Around 27,000 American troops departed from the Falmouth area to travel to Normandy in 1944 as part of the D-Day landings.
- The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester to attend D-Day 80: Remembering the Normandy Landings at the Royal Albert Hall, London.
Maryam Zakir-Hussain6 June 2024 08:28
Voices: Lest our children forget, remember D-Day not just today, but every day
As world leaders join veterans in Normandy marking the 80th anniversary of the Allied campaign to liberate Europe, the valour of the past meets the virtue of the present – but it is clear that the forces of darkness that engulfed much of the continent in the 1930s are still alive, writes historian Anthony Seldon:
Lest our children forget, remember D-Day not just today, but every day
As world leaders join veterans in Normandy marking the 80th anniversary of the Allied campaign to liberate Europe, the valour of the past meets the virtue of the present – but it is clear that the forces of darkness that engulfed much of the continent in the 1930s are still alive, writes historian Anthony Seldon
Athena Stavrou6 June 2024 14:46
Watch live: French President Macron leads ceremony marking 80th anniversary of D-Day
As the commemorative events continue in Normandy, watch French President Macron leading the ceremony to mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day live:
Athena Stavrou6 June 2024 14:19
Joe and Jill Biden walk alongside Brigitte and Emmanuel Macron
Athena Stavrou6 June 2024 14:14
Full story: Biden links defense of Ukraine to heroism of D-Day as he warns ‘dark forces’ have not faded: ‘We will not walk away’
Eighty years to the day British, American, and Canadian soldiers landed in France and began the fight to liberate Europe from Hitler, President Joe Biden told an audience of world leaders and veterans that their fight against Nazism is echoed in the fight against Russian aggression being waged by Ukrainian soldiers and their allies today.
Biden, who traveled to France on Tuesday for the anniversary of the allied invasion of Europe known as Operation Overlord, told the assembled veterans, that it was his “highest honor” to salute them, as he recalled how several of the individuals present on stage with him had contributed to the allied victory that day.
Athena Stavrou6 June 2024 14:04
Biden meets D-Day veterans in Normandy
Athena Stavrou6 June 2024 14:02
Watch: Biden warns world ‘will not surrender to bullies’ as he commemorates 80th D-Day
Athena Stavrou6 June 2024 13:50
Biden says NATO ‘will not walk away’ or ‘bow down to bullies’
The United States and NATO will not walk away from the crisis in Ukraine, U.S. President Joe Biden said in a D-Day speech in Normandy, France, on Thursday.
Biden said Ukraine, which is at war with Russia, was invaded by a “tyrant intent on domination” and that democracy was now more at risk than at any point since World War Two.
“Make no mistake, we will not bow down, we cannot surrender to the bullies, it is simply unthinkable. If we do, freedom will be subjugated, all Europe will be threatened “ he said in Colleville-sur-Mer.
Athena Stavrou6 June 2024 13:26
Biden has paid tribute to D-Day ‘hero’ veterans as he addressed attendees at a commemorative event in Normandy.
He said: “On behalf of the the American people, it’s the highest honour to salute you in Normandy once more. God love you.”
He went on to quotes former British prime minister Winston Churchill, saying: “He called what happened here ‘the greatest most complicated operation ever’ – after years of planning, Operation Overlord was ready to launch just as the weather turned.”
“Men, guns, planes, naval craft waited. Finally, President Dwight D Eisenhower’s forecasts said there was a window in the weather that opened on 6 June and he gave the order that at dawn, the allies would strike”.
Athena Stavrou6 June 2024 13:17
US President Joe Biden began his D-Day speech in Normandy: “The hour had nearly come. Monday, June 5, 1944. The evil third Reich had devastated the world. Nazi Germany had subjugated the once free nations of Europe through brute force, lies and twisted ideology.
“Millions of Jews were in the holocaust. Millions of others were killed by bombs, bullets and bloody warfare. Hitler and those with him thought democracies were weak and the future belonged to dictators.”
Athena Stavrou6 June 2024 13:13