• Xi and Putin pledge to stand together against US
• Germany slams Russian ‘lies’ in commemoration
• Macron says ‘spectre of war has returned’

MOSCOW/LONDON/BERLIN/PARIS: As Europe and Russia celebrate the 80th anniversary of VE Day that marked the end of World War II, rift between the nations, which were involved in the war, still divide Europe even after the passing of eight decades.

Commemorations in Russia and Europe, in remembrance of their war heroes, were held separately on Thursday, where Russian President Vladimir Putin standing with Chinese counterpart to showcase their solidified relations against the US, expressed to defend the “historical truth” about World War II, while Germany criticised Moscow’s “historical lies” over the Ukraine war.

French President Emmanuel Macron, referring to the Russian incursion in Ukraine, also warned that the spectre of war had returned in Europe as he attended ceremonies on Thursday to celebrate VE day,

Eighty years ago on May 8, 1945, central London was thron­ged with huge crowds celebrating the end of the war. In a radio address to the nation Churchill announced that the day would be “Victory in Europe Day”.

President Vladimir Putin told his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping on Thursday that their nations intend to defend the “historical truth” about World War II, which the Russian leader accuses the West of wanting to distort.

In opening remarks after greeting Xi in one of the Kremlin’s most opulent halls, Putin thanked him for coming to Moscow to mark 80 years since the “sacred” victory over Adolf Hitler.

“Together with our Chinese friends we firmly stand on guard of historical truth, protect the memory of events of the war years and counter modern manifestations of neo-Nazism and militarism,” Putin said, as Russian society has seen unprecedented militarisation during three years of conflict with Ukraine.

Chinese President Xi Jinping told Russia’s Vladimir Putin their two countries should be “friends of steel”, as they pledged to raise cooperation to a new level and “decisively” counter the influence of the United States.

Moscow is on Friday set to hold a large Victory Day parade to mark the anniversary of the Nazis’ defeat.

At talks in the Kremlin, the two leaders cast themselves as defenders of a new world order no longer dominated by the US. In a lengthy joint statement, they said they would deepen relations in all areas, including military ties, and “strengthen coordination in order to decisively counter Washington’s course of ‘dual containment’ of Russia and China”.

The two countries said the Ukraine conflict could only be settled by removing its “root causes”. Xi’s participation — and the joint statement aligning China with Russia’s view of the conflict — provide Putin with an important boost as Russia comes under pressure from the United States to end the war.

King Charles leads UK service

King Charles III on Thursday joined veterans and other members of the royal family at London’s Westminster Abbey for a service to mark 80 years since the end of World War II.

Arriving at the abbey, Charles and his eldest son Prince William laid wreaths at the church’s tomb of the unknown warrior. The King’s message on the wreath read simply: “We will never forget” and was signed Charles R.

William’s message, which was signed “William” and “Catherine”, added: “For those who made the ultimate sacrifice during the Second World War. We will remember them.”

This year’s commemorations have had an extra poignancy due to the great age of the dwindling numbers of surviving veterans. War-time prime minister Winston Churchill’s 10-year-old great-great-grandson Alexander lit a candle of peace during the service, which was preceded by a nationwide two-minute silence.

“It feels really amazing that I can represent my family and also the younger generation to know and remember everyone involved in World War II,” the younger Churchill said. Other younger members of the congregation handed out white roses to veterans. Charles, who is undergoing treatment for an unspecified cancer, was also accompanied by Queen Camilla, William’s wife Princess Catherine, also known as Kate, and other senior members of the royal family.

The Westminster Abbey service featured a rendition of the favourite 1940s song “The White Cliffs of Dover”, readings of wartime letters to loved ones, and an excerpt of Churchill’s 1945 victory speech.

Germany slams Russian ‘lies’

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier on Thursday criticised Russia’s “historical lies” over the Ukraine war, as he marked the Nazi defeat that ended World War II in Europe 80 years ago.

Steinmeier’s speech to parliament expressed gratitude to the Allied soldiers and resistance movements who, “with all their strength and at great sacrifice”, defeated Nazi Germany.

He also praised the Soviet Red Army — in which Russian and Ukrainian troops fought side-by-side — for their role in the Nazis’ defeat, noting it had liberated the Auschwitz concentration camp in Nazi-occupied Poland.

“We do not forget this,” Steinmeier told the Bundestag, during a sombre commemoration on the May 8 anniversary of Nazi Germany’s unconditional surrender to the Allies. “But precisely because of this, we firmly oppose the Kremlin’s historical lies today,” he added.

“(President Vladimir) Putin’s war of aggression, his campaign against a free, democratic country, has nothing in common with the fight against Nazi tyranny in World War II.”

Steinmeier’s speech received lengthy applause from MPs, although many from the far-right AfD — now the biggest opposition party after coming second in February elections — did not join in.

‘Spectre of war has returned’

With the Russian war in Ukraine having stretched into its fourth year, Macron noted that the idea of perpetual peace in Europe following World War II had been illusory.

In recent years, Europeans have seen “the spectre of war return, a resurgence of imperialism and totalitarian behaviour that have trampled on the rights of nations once again”, Macron said at the foot of the Arc de Triomphe war memorial in Paris.

European nations are looking to significantly step up defence spending amid fears that the administration of US President Donald Trump could reduce its commitment to Nato.

Published in Dawn, May 9th, 2025