Sarkozy cancels trip to Russia

President Nicolas Sarkozy has canceled a trip to Moscow to participate in Victory Day festivities because of the financial crisis that is riling the euro zone, officials said Saturday.

"Considering the financial crisis across the euro zone, the president of the Republic will stay Sunday in the French territory to maintain with different interlocutors," Thomas Buffin, the French ambassador to Russia, said in a statement.

"Therefore the state leader will not be in Moscow for the 65th anniversary of the victory in 1945," Buffin added.

The president's office in Elysee Palace confirmed the news to Xinhua, but there was no immediate official declaration of the cancellation.

Sarkozy marked the 65th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany on Saturday by presenting a wreath at the statue of French leader Charles de Gaulle on the Champs Elysee.

Source: Xinhua