Biden arrives in France for D-Day anniversary, talks with Zelensky, Macron

U.S. President Joe Biden, accompanied by the First Lady, arrived in Paris. At the Orly Airport, he was welcomed by French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal.

That’s according to Reuters, Ukrinform reports.

This is Biden's first presidential visit to France, and also the longest foreign tour he has made during his tenure, the Elysee Palace says. Biden will return to Washington on Sunday, meaning he will stay in France for five days.

On Thursday, he will take part in the celebrations on the occasion of the D-Day 80th anniversary. On the sidelines of the ceremony, a meeting between Joe Biden and President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, will take place. French President Emmanuel Macron also invited the King Charles III of Great Britain, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and head of the Italian state Sergio Mattarella to attend the event.

Read also: Biden shares his vision of peace in Ukraine

The state visit as such, at the highest protocol level, will take place on Saturday. It will be marked by a ceremony at the Arc de Triomphe and a reception at the Elysée Palace.

As Ukrinform reported earlier, the White House announced two meetings between Zelensky and Biden – in France and Italy

Volodymyr Zelensky and Joe Biden will hold a bilateral meeting in Normandy, France, and will also meet during the G7 summit in Italy to discuss the situation of Ukraine.