Germany’s parliament has opted not to invite the ambassadors of Russia and Belarus to a special sitting on May 8 marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War Two in Europe, reflecting growing unease over how to commemorate Russia’s wartime role while it wages war in Ukraine.
A spokesperson for the Bundestag confirmed on Thursday that the decision was based on a federal government assessment, which determined that certain diplomatic representatives would not be welcome at the commemorative event. “This assessment led to the ambassadors of the Russian Federation and Belarus, among others, not being invited,” the statement read.
The event, which will be held in the Bundestag’s plenary chamber, will reflect on the fall of Nazi Germany and the liberation of Europe from its brutal regime. While lawmakers and diplomats from other countries will attend, the Bundestag clarified that no foreign guests beyond accredited embassies were formally invited.
Russia’s historical role in the defeat of Nazi Germany has long been central to its national identity. However, President Vladimir Putin’s repeated use of World War Two narratives to justify Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine has strained how Western nations approach such commemorations.
Despite the snub, Russian Ambassador Sergey Nechayev appeared at a separate ceremony on Wednesday in Seelow, eastern Germany, to mark the 80th anniversary of the Battle of the Seelow Heights. The battle, one of the final and bloodiest engagements before the Soviet army’s advance into Berlin in 1945, cost the lives of more than 30,000 Soviet troops.
The German government had previously warned against attempts to “instrumentalise” historical events for political gain, particularly in light of Moscow’s ongoing military aggression.
Reacting to the Bundestag’s move, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova accused Germany of dishonouring wartime history. Speaking to Russia’s RIA news agency, she described the exclusion of Russian and Belarusian envoys as an “insult to the direct descendants of Hitler’s executioners.”
As the war in Ukraine continues to reshape global alliances and historical narratives, Germany’s symbolic gesture underscores the diplomatic balancing act between acknowledging the past and confronting present-day realities.
Melissa Enoch
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