In contrast, Russia has opted to exclude a long list of nations it deems "unfriendly," withholding invitations from leaders of Germany, Ukraine, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, France, Czechia and Estonia.

Leaders from Australia, Andorra, the United Kingdom, San Marino, Monaco, Canada, Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and Japan were also not invited.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed the policy, saying, "We will not invite leaders of unfriendly states."

U.S. President Donald Trump also did not receive an invitation, though the Kremlin recently extended a separate invitation for a future visit to Russia