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The German parliament has kept the ambassadors of Russia and Belarus off its guest list for a special sitting on May 8 marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War Two in Europe, a spokesperson for the legislature said on Thursday.
The decision highlights discomfort in Germany over how to address the role of Russia in liberating Europe from Nazi terror during the anniversary year given that President Vladimir Putin has drawn on the legacy of World War Two to justify his invasion of Ukraine.
The Bundestag spokesperson referred to an assessment by the federal government in a statement explaining the move: "This assessment led to the ambassadors of the Russian Federation and Belarus, among others, not being invited," it said.