Germany excludes Russian, Belarusian ambassadors from WWII anniversary event

The German parliament has decided not to invite the ambassadors of Russia and Belarus to a special session on May 8 commemorating the 80th anniversary of the end of World War Two in Europe, a Bundestag spokesperson confirmed on Thursday.

The move, seen as highly symbolic, underscores Germany’s deepening unease over how to navigate historical memory amid ongoing tensions with Moscow. While the Soviet Union played a decisive role in defeating Nazi Germany in 1945, Russia’s current war in Ukraine has cast a long shadow over this year’s anniversary.

“The ambassadors of Russia and Belarus will not be on the guest list,” the parliamentary spokesperson said, offering no further comment on the reasoning behind the exclusion. The decision comes as President Vladimir Putin continues to invoke the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany to justify his country’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine—a narrative that many in Berlin and across the West view as a distortion of history.

The omission reflects growing discomfort in Germany and other European nations about how to reconcile Russia’s historical contribution to Europe’s liberation with its present-day aggression. Belarus, a key ally of Moscow, has supported Russia’s military campaign and allowed its territory to be used for launching attacks into Ukraine.

May 8 marks Victory in Europe Day, when Nazi Germany’s unconditional surrender in 1945 ended the war on the continent. Germany traditionally uses the occasion to reflect on the atrocities of the Nazi regime and honor those who resisted it, as well as the victims of war and tyranny.

This year’s 80th anniversary had been expected to carry particular weight, but the geopolitical climate has made it difficult to commemorate the past without reference to the present. Some German lawmakers and historians have warned that excluding Russia risks simplifying the complex legacy of the war, while others argue that inviting Russian representatives would legitimize Putin’s militaristic rhetoric.

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Chancellor Olaf Scholz are scheduled to attend the commemorative sitting, which will feature speeches and tributes to the victims and liberators of the war. Ukrainian representatives are expected to be present, reflecting Berlin’s continued support for Kyiv amid the ongoing conflict.

The decision adds to the growing list of diplomatic rebukes directed at Moscow as Germany continues to align itself with broader European efforts to isolate the Kremlin on the international stage.