Standing Ground: United States Among Countries Who Refuse to Attend Putin’s Inauguration

The United States and most European Union (EU) member countries plan not to attend Russian President Vladimir Putin’s inauguration. However, some countries, including France, intend to attend, suggesting a division among Western nations in their diplomatic policies towards Russia.

According to Reuters, U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller stated on the 6th (local time), “We do not believe the Russian election was free and fair,” and confirmed that the U.S. representative would not attend Putin’s inauguration. An EU spokesperson also said they would not send an ambassador to Russia for the inauguration. The United Kingdom, Germany, and Canada have also expressed their intention not to attend. Reuters quoted a diplomat from the EU predicting that 20 out of the EU member countries would boycott Putin’s inauguration.

However, seven countries, including France, Hungary, and Slovakia, plan to attend the ceremony. France’s participation is particularly noteworthy given its recent conflicts with Russia over increased support for Ukraine.

The Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has urged countries not to attend the inauguration, arguing that there is no legal basis to recognize Putin as a democratically elected legitimate Russian president. The Ministry criticized Putin for turning Russia into an invading country and his regime into a dictatorship, claiming the inauguration was merely to create an illusion of legitimacy for his anti-national governance.

Reuters interpreted such diverse diplomatic responses from the West as indicative of differing views on handling President Putin.

Earlier, the Kremlin announced that it had invited all diplomatic corps stationed in Russia, including those from unfriendly countries, to Putin’s inauguration scheduled for noon on the 7th. However, the Kremlin clarified that foreign leaders were not invited as it was a domestic event. President Putin was re-elected for a fifth term with overwhelming support in last March elections. His new term will last six years until 2030.