COLLEVILLE-SUR-MER, France (AP) President Joe Biden marked the 80th anniversary of D-Day on Thursday by pledging we will not walk away from Ukraine, drawing a direct line from the fight to liberate Europe from Nazi domination to todays war against Russian aggression.

To surrender to bullies, to bow down to dictators, is simply unthinkable, he said during a ceremony at the American cemetery in Normandy. If we were to do that, it means wed be forgetting what happened here on these hallowed beaches.

D-Day was the largest amphibious assault in history, and Biden called it a powerful illustration of how alliances, real alliances make us stronger. He said that was a lesson that I pray we Americans never forget.

The comment by the Democratic president was a reminder that American commitments around the globe hang in the balance during this years U.S. election. Donald Trump , the presumptive Republican nominee, has said he would not defend European allies that are delinquent in their own security spending.

The possibility of Trumps return to the White House has left many of the continents leaders fearful that transatlantic unity, which was sealed in blood on D-Day and strengthened in response to Russias invasion of Ukraine, could fray or even rupture.