U.S. President Joe Biden, marking the 80th anniversary of D-Day, said the free world stands with Ukraine and won't cave in to Russian aggression, drawing a parallel with the Allies' fight to liberate Europe from Nazi Germany's subjugation in World War II.
The United States and NATO "will not walk away" and abandon Ukraine, Biden said in a speech at commemorations in Normandy on June 6 to mark the anniversary of the 1944 Allied landing in Normandy, a turning point that contributed decisively to Adolf Hitler's ultimate defeat in 1945.
"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," Biden said in Colleville-sur-Mer at a ceremony hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron in honor of the dwindling number of surviving World War II veterans and attended by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Britain's King Charles III, and other heads of state and dignitaries.
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Neither Russian President Vladimir Putin nor any other officials from Russia were invited to the commemoration.
"Ukraine has been invaded by a tyrant, they're fighting with extraordinary courage, suffering great losses but never backing down," Biden said describing Putin as a "tyrant bent on domination."
The U.S. president, meanwhile, hailed NATO as "the greatest military alliance in the world" and said it is "more determined than ever to keep peace."
Drawing again a parallel with World War II, Biden said America's "isolation was not the answer 80 years ago and it's not the answer today," a thinly veiled reference directed at some Republican politicians who are sceptical of U.S. support for Ukraine.
"We must remember that the fact that they were heroes here that day does not absolve us of what we have to do today. Democracy is never guaranteed. Every generation must preserve it, defend it, and fight for it. That's the test of the ages."
Macron, speaking at Omaha Beach, also drew a parallel with the war in Ukraine and thanked the Ukrainian people for their bravery in the face of the Russian full-scale invasion launched in 2022.
"Faced with the return of war on our continent...faced with those who purport to change borders by force to rewrite history, let us be worthy of those who landed here," Macron said.
The ceremony was held near Omaha Beach, the code name of one of the two U.S. forces' landing spots, where American troops suffered more than 2,500 deaths -- more than half the total of 4,414 Allied troops killed on D-Day.
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D-Day, the start of the landing in Normandy codenamed Operation Overlord, was the largest amphibious assault in history, with 156,115 troops from 12 countries taking part.
Biden called it a "powerful illustration of how alliances, real alliances, make us stronger," adding it was "a lesson that I pray we Americans never forget."
In a message posted on social media, Zelenskiy said, "This event and today are a reminder of the courage and determination 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, true unity is capable of winning even now," Zelenskiy added.
Zelenskiy is due to hold talks with Biden and Macron during his trip to France.