Washington, Dec 7 (AP) President Joe Biden on Tuesday marked the 80th anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor with a visit to the World War II Memorial in the nation's capital.

The December 7, 1941, attack on Pearl Harbor and other locations in Hawaii killed 2,403 service members and civilians and was a defining moment that led to US entry into World War II.

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Biden, who visited the memorial with first lady Jill Biden, touched a wreath and saluted.

In a White House proclamation issued last week to recognize National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, he gave “thanks to the Greatest Generation, who guided our Nation through some of our darkest moments and laid the foundations of an international system that has transformed former adversaries into allies.”

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Biden made the Tuesday morning visit just hours before he was to hold a highly anticipated video conference call with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Biden is expected to use the call to express concern about a Russian troop buildup near its borders with neighboring Ukraine and to make clear to Putin that an invasion would lead to economy-jarring sanctions against Russia. (AP)

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)