French president praises multilateralism of Nato and EU while offering gratitude to US

France’s president, Emmanuel Macron, has appealed directly to Donald Trump to fulfil the “promise of Normandy” by embracing pillars of the postwar peace such as the European Union and Nato as the two leaders marked the D-day landings 75 years ago.

In a speech that trod a fine diplomatic line, Macron offered both sincere expressions of gratitude for the valour of US troops in the second world war and vehement calls for the White House to re-engage with the principles of multilateralism.

When you think about D-Day on this 75th anniversary, there is much that stimulates a kind of awe. Strictly as a military problem the thing was one possible FUBAR (ask a Vet) piled upon another. At the big levels, strategic and operational, it was daunting, to put it mildly.

There was, in the first place, the enemy. In the 20th century, the Germans had built an awesome military reputation. They had fought the whole world, twice, and come very close to victory in 1914 and, again, in 1941.

The only words we can say to veterans are "thank you", Theresa May has told a ceremony to mark the 75th anniversary of the Normandy invasion.

Her words were echoed by French President Emmanuel Macron, who told D-Day veterans gathered in northern France that we owe them "our freedom".

The day of commemorative events began with a lone piper marking the moment the first UK soldiers went ashore.

Donald Trump later told US veterans they were "the pride of the nation".

The US president was at a service at the US war cemetery at Omaha Beach.