This was announced by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. There are still divisions within European countries. France will send a delegation, but Germany will not.
Disagreements in relations with Russia
The varying responses from different countries highlight differences over how to deal with the Russian leader, two years after he launched the massive invasion of Ukraine.
“No, we will not have a representative present at his inauguration,” said Matthew Miller, spokesman for the US State Department. He added: “We did not consider the elections free and fair, but he is the president of Russia and will continue in this capacity.”
Putin won a landslide victory in the presidential elections held in March, just weeks after his most prominent rival, Alexei Navalny, died in suspicious circumstances in a penal colony in Siberia.
The swearing-in ceremony is an “illusion”
Western governments condemned the re-election, describing it as unfair and undemocratic. Today's swearing-in ceremony is said to be aimed at “creating the illusion of legitimacy” for Putin's long rule.
According to a European diplomat, twenty EU member states will boycott the event, and seven more are expected to send a representative.
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