Moscow—Vladmir Putin will not attend memorial services in Poland on January 27, the 70th liberation of Auschwitz by Russian troops, the Kremlin spokesman told Interfax, the Russian news agency. A source told Reuters that this is because there is a lack of trust between him and other national leaders because of Crimea and Ukraine. Poland, one of Putin’s critics, did not send him a full diplomatic invitation, and are worried that if he does show up, they will suffer domestic political ramifications.

“He will not go but of course we have attached and do attach great importance to all memorial events, especially on the 70th anniversary of victory (in World War Two), including those that will take place in Poland,” Peskov was quoted as saying by Interfax.