Moscow celebrated the 80th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany and the end of World War II with a show of force and power in Moscow's Red Square this Friday. Russian President Vladimir Putin was joined by international leaders, and at his side, in a direct message to the White House and Europe, he seated Chinese President Xi Jinping. The selection of images captures some of the highlights of the military commemoration.

A group of citizens approached the Soviet World War II memorial located in the Tiergarten, the geographical and emotional heart of Berlin, at noon this Thursday to wave Ukrainian flags. A symbolic gesture that emphasizes the impact that the commemorations of the 80th anniversary of VE Day, the day of victory and the end of World War II on the continent, have had on European capitals. Paris, London, Berlin, The Hague, and Warsaw have commemorated the surrender of the Nazi army, keeping a close eye on Moscow and the Russian threat in the wake of the VE Day. Russian invasion of the neighboring country more than three years ago.