Hollande: Putin still welcome for D-Day events

Associated Press

BRUSSELS (AP) — French President Francois Hollande says he is still inviting his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin to events marking the 70th anniversary of the D-Day landings on June 6, despite tensions between the West and Moscow over the annexation of Crimea.

Hours after Putin signed into law the annexation, Hollande said Friday that the commemoration of a key turning point in World War II should not be affected by Putin's increasing isolation.

U.S. President Barack Obama also is scheduled to attend.

Hollande says Russia and France "share thousands, if not millions of dead that were victims of this conflict, but also heroes."

Hollande backed the European Union's decision to scrap a summit with Russia, "but for the remembrance we have to make sure that the spirit of peace wins."