WASHINGTON (AP) – The White House says President Barack Obama has no plans to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin when both leaders attend next month's events in France marking the 70th anniversary of D-Day.
But the White House isn't criticizing France for welcoming Putin's visit, either.
The Kremlin said Thursday that Putin planned to attend the June 6 event commemorating the allied landing in Normandy. Meanwhile, the U.S. and the European Union are both sanctioning some other Russians close to Putin over Russia's actions in Ukraine. Obama and Putin haven't met since the crisis started.
White House spokeswoman Caitlin Hayden said Thursday that France invited many countries, and the U.S. wouldn't expect the French to dis-invite Russia because of events in Ukraine.
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