US, Russian presidents absent for symbolic walk
United in the rain, world leaders walked slowly up the Champs-Elysees in Paris to mark a century since the end of World War I – but there were two notable absences, Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin.
The line of black-clad leaders was reminiscent of another moment of unity: after the 2015 Charlie Hebdo religious extremist attack, when senior officials from more than 40 countries marched through Paris to denounce terrorism.
But yesterday both the US and Russian presidents arrived separately for the solemn ceremony at the Arc de Triomphe, skipping the bus ride and symbolic walk with other leaders.
White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said that Trump, who wore a cornflower – France’s war remembrance flower – in his lapel, had arrived separately “due to security protocols”.
His trademark bright red tie stood out among the dark coats in the front row as he and Putin stood either side of Macron.
Putin said he had a brief but good conversation with Trump at World War I centenary events in Paris, Russian media reported.
When journalists asked Putin whether he managed to speak to Trump, he said “yes”, Russian state news agency RIA Novosti reported.
Asked how it went, Putin replied “well.” He did not provide details.
The ceremony at the Arc de Triomphe, to remember the millions who died in the war, including colonial troops fighting for European powers, had a deliberately international flavour.
The superstar Chinese-American cellist Yo-Yo Ma performed alongside Beninese singer Angelique Kidjo and a European youth orchestra led by a Russian conductor.
High-school students read letters from soldiers at the front in English, French, German and Chinese.
“Am I dreaming?” read one letter from a French soldier upon learning that four years of brutal trench warfare were coming to an end in November 1918. “I’m so happy, I can hardly believe that the news is true.”
Another letter, from a British soldier, read: “My darling parents, today has been perfectly wonderful. We got news of the armistice at 9.30 this morning ... The streets were packed with wildly cheering civilians.”
The crowds who braved the rain for the ceremony along the famed Champs-Elysees boulevard in Paris also came from far afield.
Nevan Lancaster, a 47-yearold from New Zealand, extended a work trip to Europe to pay his respects to a grandfather who fought in the war. “I’m here for him. He didn’t speak about the war – it was his job, it was his duty.”
Keith Evans, a 70-year-old Scot, said he had come “to remember the sacrifice, and the cost” of a conflict that claimed up to 20mn lives.
“I hope that with this event, the leaders here will learn the lesson of what President Macron has just said,” Evans said, a remembrance poppy pinned to his raincoat.
“We should do better for peace,” he added.
“Will we ever learn? I hope so,” Evan said.