Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has stated that the anniversary of D-Day this year is “perhaps more important than it has been in many years” due to the current situation in Ukraine. Frederiksen participated in a ceremony in Normandy, France, on Thursday, along with King Frederik to mark the 80th anniversary of the Allied invasion during World War II. In an interview with TV 2, Frederiksen emphasized that D-Day reminds us of what it takes to achieve peace and freedom, and she pointed out that this price must always be willing to be paid. She specifically referred to the war in Ukraine as an example of the current fight for freedom.
Earlier in the day, Frederiksen spoke at a Danish ceremony where a new memorial wall was inaugurated in honor of the Danes and their descendants who fought for the Allies from D-Day on June 6, 1944, until the liberation of Paris on August 31, 1944. Wreaths were also laid for the Danish sailors who participated in the operations on D-Day by sailing Allied soldiers across the English Channel. In her speech, Frederiksen emphasized that history does not necessarily repeat itself, but that it can sometimes feel that way. She drew parallels between D-Day and the current situation in Kharkiv, Ukraine, which is subjected to daily bombing attacks. She once again assured that Ukraine can count on Danish support “for as long as it takes”.
The international ceremony in Normandy was also attended by prominent world leaders such as Britain’s King Charles, France’s President Emmanuel Macron, US President Joe Biden, and Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky. The memorial ceremonies were attended by about 200 veterans from World War II, primarily from the United States and Britain, many of whom are over 100 years old. In total, around 4,400 soldiers from the Allied forces lost their lives on D-Day, including 2,500 American soldiers.