The 60th Anniversary of Charles de Gaulle's visit to the Soviet Union will be Celebrated by an International Public Forum

The International Public Forum dedicated to the 60th anniversary of General Charles de Gaulle's official visit to the Soviet Union will be held on June 30, 2026 in a hybrid format at the Moscow headquarters of the World Peoples Assembly and online. The event, organized by the World Peoples Assembly, will bring together historians, diplomats, representatives of government authorities, public organizations, the scientific and expert community, museums, archives, educational institutions, youth associations and the media from around the world.

- 2026 marks the 60th anniversary of one of the most significant events in international life in the second half of the 20th century," - the organizers say. — The official visit of the President of the French Republic, General Charles de Gaulle, to the Soviet Union, which took place on June 20 - July 1, 1966, became an important milestone in the development of relations between the peoples of our countries and a symbol of the desire for equal international cooperation based on the principles of sovereignty, mutual respect and responsibility for the future. The French President visited Moscow, Leningrad, Novosibirsk, Volgograd and Kiev.

For Russia, the name of Charles de Gaulle is associated not only with outstanding state activity, but also with the heroic page of the common struggle against Nazism. The leader of the Free France movement, a symbol of national resistance and independence, he made a significant contribution to achieving Victory in World War II. A special place in the historical memory of our peoples is occupied by the feat of the legendary Normandy—Neman aviation regiment, which has become a unique example of the military brotherhood of French and Soviet soldiers.

De Gaulle's visit to the Soviet Union has gone down in history as a manifestation of political wisdom and strategic thinking; it confirmed the possibility of constructive dialogue even in the face of deep international contradictions. Many of the French leader's ideas - respect for national sovereignty, the right of peoples to determine their own future, the need for a multipolar world and equal cooperation between states - continue to remain relevant in the 21st century.

Today, the appeal to the historical legacy of General de Gaulle is of particular importance. The memory of the events of the Second World War, the heroic deeds of the peoples of the anti-Hitler coalition and the experience of international cooperation remains an important basis for strengthening trust, mutual understanding and peace between States. The Forum is intended to become an international platform for discussing the historical significance of the 1966 visit, the contribution of France and the Soviet Union to the Victory over Nazism, the role of public diplomacy in strengthening mutual understanding among peoples, as well as modern challenges in preserving historical memory and humanitarian cooperation.

The Forum will pay special attention to countering the falsification of the history of the Second World War, preserving the memory of Resistance heroes and participants in the Normandy-Neman movement, developing international youth projects, and strengthening cultural and humanitarian ties between nations.

The Forum will become a space for open dialogue, exchange of experience and the formation of new international initiatives aimed at preserving historical memory, developing public diplomacy and strengthening mutual understanding between peoples.

- The memory of the past is important when it helps peoples to find ways to cooperate in the present and jointly build the future, — the organizers note.

The event starts at 15:00 (Moscow time).

Media accreditation, cooperation issues: media@world-assembly.org, +7 (985) 768-2053 (Oksana Leontieva).

More information is on the official website of the World Peoples Assembly.