80th Anniversary of World War II: US President Donald Trump cancels trip to Warsaw

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Poland is marking the 80th anniversary of the beginning of World War II Sunday. US President Donald Trump was supposed to be one of the key guests at the event. But, the US leader has cancelled the trip in the wake of the fast-approaching Hurricane Dorian. Our reporter Aljosa Milenkovic is in Poland's capital, Warsaw, and has more.

Workers assemble the stage and the stands at the square in front of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Warsaw. Final preparations are underway into the evening.

ALJOSA MILENKOVIC WARSAW "US President Donald Trump was scheduled to deliver a speech to the Polish nation from the stage behind me. Instead, Trump is sending Vice President Mike Pence in his place. The news that came as a surprise for some here in Warsaw."

Trump cancelled his planned trip to Poland to remain in the U.S. to monitor fast-approaching Hurricane Dorian.

DONALD TRUMP PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES "Our highest priority is the safety and security of the people in the path of the hurricane, and I will be rescheduling my trip to Poland in the near future."

But here in Poland, some don't believe his reason for canceling his trip. Witold Jurasz, a former Polish diplomat, is among them.

WITOLD JURASZ PRESIDENT OF THE CENTER FOR STRATEGIC ANALYSIS "I don't really believe that it's the hurricane. Especially that if it were to be the hurricane, then it would be much more politically wise to come and then to break the visit short, although pre-planning it. And then it would look much more dramatic and the President would be much more presidential."

Trump's last minute decision to cancel his trip was a blow to Poland which invested heavily in building relations with the US.

Poland is hosting thousands of the US troops on its soil, purchasing US weapons systems, and has signed long-term contracts for US gas.

In the face of incoming US presidential elections, none of that was enough to bring Donald Trump here.

JACEK BARTOSIAK FOUNDER AND CEO OF STRATEGY & FUTURE "This hurricane might really strike that state, that can be pivotal state in his election campaign next year. So, probably that's why he made this decision. I wouldn't draw far-reaching conclusions out of that. I think that all issues that were supposed to be resolved and agreed upon have been agreed upon between Poland and the United States."

The World War II memorial events will happen but without President Trump, Russian President Putin and Belarus leader Lukashenko, it may not the picture that some here wanted to see.

Aljosa Milenkovic, CGTN, Warsaw.