Europe marks 80 years since the end of World War II, not just with remembrance, but with a sober reflection on the fragility of peace in a shifting world.
Eighty years have passed since Victory in Europe Day, when World War II officially ended on the continent. It was once one of the most joyous moments in European memory. But today, the anniversary feels heavier.
While parades march through London, Paris, and towns across the continent, a different feeling lingers, one shaped by unease, not just remembrance.
Germany’s Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul reflected on the weight of history. “Hardly any day has shaped our history as much as May 8, 1945,” he said. He honoured the sacrifices of the Allied forces and called it a moment when freedom was reclaimed from tyranny. "Our responsibility today is to resolutely defend peace and freedom in Europe."
That responsibility, once fulfilled by recovery and unity, is now tested by the shifting political landscape of the present.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk put it plainly at a memorial in the Netherlands: “The time of Europe’s carefree comfort, joyous unconcern is over. Today is the time of European mobilization around our fundamental values and our security.” The optimism that once defined post-war Europe has grown more cautious.
Even NATO, the transatlantic alliance born from war’s ashes, is showing internal strain rarely seen in its history. Questions around commitment, cohesion, and purpose continue to ripple across capitals.
Yet the core of today’s ceremonies remains the same: remembrance and resolve.
In London, a service at Westminster Abbey and a concert at Horse Guards Parade gathered thousands. In Paris, President Emmanuel Macron is expected to lead tributes at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier beneath the Arc de Triomphe. These are familiar rituals—but they echo into a world less certain than the one imagined in 1945.
Germany’s transformation from wartime aggressor to pillar of European democracy remains central to the day. Chancellor Friedrich Merz will lay a wreath at Berlin’s central memorial to the victims of war and tyranny, reaffirming the country’s modern identity grounded in peace.
Across the Atlantic, U.S. President Donald Trump also marked the anniversary. From Washington, he declared it a day to celebrate victory and honour America’s decisive role in the conflict. “We are going to start celebrating our victories again!” he said, pointing to the Normandy landings as the moment history turned.
And in Russia, the day will pass differently. Moscow will mark its Victory Day on May 9 with a military parade in Red Square. Once part of the Allied triumph, Russia now finds itself commemorating separately, a symbol of how divided the post-war order has become.
In Europe, the hope born on May 8, 1945 is still alive. But the clarity of that victory has faded into complexity. Peace, once assumed, now demands attention. The wreaths laid today carry both memory and warning.
China has issued a formal protest against the United States over recent remarks by Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, accusing Washington of “vilifying” Beijing and promoting confrontation in the Indo-Pacific.
Türkiye’s first floating natural gas production platform, Osman Gazi, reached Filyos Port in Zonguldak on May 31.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz will travel to Washington next week to meet U.S. President Donald Trump.
A bridge collapse in the Vygonichsky district of Russia’s Bryansk region, near the Ukrainian border, caused a train derailment and a traffic accident early Sunday, killing at least seven people and leaving 30 injured, according to emergency services.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet said Saturday that the border conflict with Thailand “must be resolved with patience and through legal and diplomatic channels.”
China has issued a formal protest against the United States over recent remarks by Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, accusing Washington of “vilifying” Beijing and promoting confrontation in the Indo-Pacific.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for June 1st, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Türkiye’s first floating natural gas production platform, Osman Gazi, reached Filyos Port in Zonguldak on May 31.
Authorities in Whatcom County, Washington, issued a warning Friday after a truck carrying honey bee hives overturned near the Canadian border, initially prompting fears that millions of bees had been released.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz will travel to Washington next week to meet U.S. President Donald Trump.
On May 28, the inauguration ceremony of Lachin International Airport was held.
A car drove into crowds of Liverpool fans celebrating the club’s Premier League title in the city centre on Monday evening, injuring dozens including 4 children. A 53-year-old man believed to be the driver was arrested at the scene.
Taxi drivers across France are protesting government plans to cut payments for driving patients to medical appointments. These cuts are part of a broader effort by Prime Minister François Bayrou to save €40 billion in the 2026 budget and reduce the country’s large deficit.
EU ministers have greenlit a massive €150 billion defense investment fund—dubbed the Security Action for Europe (SAFE)—as the bloc ramps up its military readiness in response to Russia’s aggression and growing uncertainty over U.S. security guarantees.
Brazil’s economy is expected to have regained momentum in the first quarter of 2025, driven by a surge in household spending and private investment, according to a Reuters poll of economists conducted from May 21–26.
China has issued a formal protest against the United States over recent remarks by Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, accusing Washington of “vilifying” Beijing and promoting confrontation in the Indo-Pacific.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for June 1st, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Türkiye’s first floating natural gas production platform, Osman Gazi, reached Filyos Port in Zonguldak on May 31.
Authorities in Whatcom County, Washington, issued a warning Friday after a truck carrying honey bee hives overturned near the Canadian border, initially prompting fears that millions of bees had been released.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz will travel to Washington next week to meet U.S. President Donald Trump.
China has issued a formal protest against the United States over recent remarks by Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, accusing Washington of “vilifying” Beijing and promoting confrontation in the Indo-Pacific.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for June 1st, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Türkiye’s first floating natural gas production platform, Osman Gazi, reached Filyos Port in Zonguldak on May 31.
Authorities in Whatcom County, Washington, issued a warning Friday after a truck carrying honey bee hives overturned near the Canadian border, initially prompting fears that millions of bees had been released.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz will travel to Washington next week to meet U.S. President Donald Trump.
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