Germany excludes Russian, Belarusian ambassadors from WWII anniversary event

Reuters reported the information.

A Bundestag spokesperson explained this decision in a statement, citing the assessment of the federal government.  

"This assessment led to the fact that the ambassadors of the Russian Federation and Belarus, among others, were not invited," he said.  

The news agency notes that representatives of other embassies will join German lawmakers at the event in the plenary hall of the Bundestag, dedicated to the end of World War II in Europe, as well as the end of the campaign of violence and genocide by Nazi Germany on the continent.  

Germany's foreign ministry had previously sent out guidance to local, state and federal bodies to keep Russian and Belarusian representatives off their guest lists for official ceremonies marking the war’s end.

The ministry expressed concerns that the envoys could “exploit the events and maliciously connect them with the war of aggression against Ukraine”.

• On April 14, Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski said that Russia is using fascist practices by continuing to wage war against Ukraine.