Bastille Day: France to hold parade with Ukraine in focus

The celebrations will feature troops and warplanes from around Europe in a show of support for Ukraine, as it fends off Russia's ongoing invasion. It is Emmanuel Macron's last Bastille Day as France's president.

France on Wednesday will celebrate Bastille Day with a special show of solidarity with Ukraine. 

A massive parade will be held in Paris in front of French President Emmanuel Macron and other high-level guests in Paris. The event will feature European troops and warplanes in support of Ukraine, which has been fending off Russia's ongoing invasion. 

It is Macron's last Bastille Day as president. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will attend the celebrations as a special guest. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer are also attending.  

Bastille Day, which is known as la fete nationale francaise, is marked on the 14 of July each year, to remember the storming of the the Bastille in 1789. The Bastille is a medieval fortress and prison, and the storming of the royal facility was a key moment during the French Revolution. 

This story will be updated as the celebrations get underway. Stay tuned for more!

Edited by: Zac Crellin

Don't let the algorithm hide the news. If you rely on our team for trusted reporting, please take a moment to select us as your Preferred Source on Google, so you'll always see our verified news first.