Putin will not go to Poland for the 70th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz

Russian President Vladimir Putin will not take part in commemorative events marking the 70th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz concentration camp, which will be held this month in Poland.

This was announced on Tuesday by Putin's press secretary Dmitry Peskov.

Reuters sources told Reuters on Monday that Putin is unlikely to join world leaders gathering at the site of the former death camp, as mistrust over the conflict in Ukraine has darkened preparations for the memorial ceremony.

“The president’s schedule does not include such a trip,” Interfax quoted Peskov as saying.

A spokesman for the Russian president added that Putin had not received an official invitation to these events.

Poland, which turned out to be among Moscow's critics in connection with the crisis in Ukraine, did not send Putin a full-fledged diplomatic invitation, fearing possible domestic political consequences, sources told Reuters.

Peskov noted that, as far as Moscow understands, usually no official invitations are sent to such events, but Putin has not received any personal invitation either.

“He will not go, despite the fact that we, of course, have attached and still attach, especially in the year of the 70th anniversary of Victory, the utmost importance to all memorial events, including the one that will take place in Poland,” said Putin's press secretary.

Moscow and the West are experiencing the most serious confrontation since the Cold War over the conflict in Ukraine, writes Voice of America.