Macron pays tribute to French city destroyed by Normandy bombings

French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday (June 5) paid tribute to Saint-Lo, a city in Normandy that was almost totally destroyed during bombings in WWII, Reuters reports.

 

The D-Day commemorations are set against a backdrop of a modern conflict in Europe, Russia's more than 2-year war with Ukraine.

 

On Tuesday (June 4), British veterans sailed to Normandy where, 80 years ago this week, they fought to liberate France as part of D-Day, preparing to taking part in ceremonies marking a major turning point of World War Two.

 

The special voyage was part of celebrations for D-Day's 80th anniversary, likely to be the last marked on a grand scale in the presence of those who fought in 1944. About 200 veterans, most American and British, are expected to take part.

 

With war raging on Europe's borders, this week's D-Day ceremonies carry special resonance. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy will be among Thursday's (June 6) guests.