US, UK, most EU nations to boycott Putin inauguration

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Most European Union nations and the United States have announced their decision not to send envoys to Vladimir Putin’s inauguration as Russian president on Tuesday.

Putin, 71, secured his fifth term in office in a March election that critics widely regarded as lacking democratic legitimacy. His victory came shortly after the unexpected death of his prominent critic, Alexey Navalny, in an Arctic prison.

The US, UK, Canada, and most EU member states have declared their refusal to attend the ceremony. The three Baltic states—Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania—have withdrawn their ambassadors from Moscow and will also abstain from the inauguration.

Lithuania’s Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis emphasized the importance of continuing Russia’s isolation, stating that participation in Putin’s inauguration is unacceptable for Lithuania. He reiterated Lithuania’s commitment to supporting Ukraine against Russian aggression.

The Czech Republic is also expected to skip the ceremony, and Germany’s Foreign Office announced that its representative would not attend, following the recall of its ambassador over alleged Russian cyberattacks.

Despite the boycott by several nations, France, Hungary, and Slovakia are reportedly sending representatives to the ceremony. French President Emmanuel Macron clarified that while France condemns the repression surrounding the election and the organization of elections in Russian-occupied Ukrainian territories, it does not seek regime change in Moscow.

The ceremony is scheduled to take place at the Grand Kremlin Palace, where Putin will arrive in a luxury motorcade. He will then proceed to Saint Andrew Hall to take the presidential oath and deliver a brief address, followed by receiving a blessing from the patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church.

The swearing-in ceremony comes a day after Russia announced plans for a tactical nuclear weapons drill, citing provocative actions by Western countries over Ukraine. Despite Ukraine’s refusal to recognize Putin as the democratically elected president, the ceremony aims to legitimize his extended tenure in power.

Amidst the diplomatic tensions, Franco-Russian relations have strained further, with France expressing increased support for Ukraine. Macron stated that France would consider sending troops to Ukraine if Russia breaches the front lines and Kyiv requests assistance.