Putin does not rule out attending D-Day anniversary events: Kremlin

Moscow: Russian President Vladimir Putin does not rule out attending commemorations for the 70th anniversary of D-Day in France next month, his spokesman told AFP on Tuesday. "Such a trip is being worked out," Putin`s spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, adding that it was "undoubtedly" not ruled out. 

Western leaders including US President Barack Obama and Britain`s Queen Elizabeth have confirmed their participation in the events to commemorate the Normandy landings that marked the beginning of the liberation of continental Europe from the Nazis. Russia`s Izvestia daily on Tuesday cited a source in the Russian presidential administration as saying there was a possibility Putin would take part in bilateral talks while in France. French President Francois Hollande said in March that an invitation to Putin to attend would not be withdrawn over the Ukraine crisis. "I invited President Putin for the D-Day celebrations on June 6 and I maintain that invitation," Hollande said. "Russia was in solidarity with France and paid a heavy tribute," he added.