Europe solemnly marked the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II this week, with leaders across the continent reflecting on the enduring lessons of history and reinforcing commitments to peace. From Warsaw to Paris, commemorations blended remembrance with urgent calls for unity amid global challenges.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk pledged to bolster national defense during a ceremony in Warsaw, while President Andrzej Duda emphasized on social media: "No more war!" German Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier addressed Germany’s historical responsibility, urging vigilance against extremism. Meanwhile, 48 German corporate giants, including Siemens and Deutsche Bank, acknowledged their Nazi-era ties and vowed to combat antisemitism.
Symbolic gestures highlighted reconciliation. New German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron met in Paris, celebrating Franco-German friendship as a "gift of forgiveness." In Slovakia, Prime Minister Robert Fico honored Red Army soldiers, calling WWII’s end a "celebration of peace." The Tower of London unveiled 30,000 crimson poppies, each representing a life lost, as Britain’s royals led four days of memorials.
European Union leaders framed the anniversary as a collective duty. European Parliament President Roberta Metsola declared the resolve to prevent future conflicts, while Italian President Sergio Mattarella warned that defending democracy remains a "shared task."
