A girl scout offers a rose to a World War II veteran during ceremonies marking 60 years since the war's end in the main square of Wroclaw, Poland

Ceremonies marking the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe are taking place in several countries Saturday.

Russia's President Vladimir Putin praised the Soviet Union's heroic actions in hastening the end of the war. His comments came in Moscow at the dedication of a new war memorial at Poklonnaya Hill.

Polish President Aleksander Kwasniewski joined other leaders in paying tribute to Poles and Soviet troops killed in the conflict at ceremonies in Wroclaw.

In France, ceremonies were held in the city of Reims, where Nazi Germany's military formally surrendered to the allies exactly 60 years ago. The formal armistice ending the war in Europe was signed in Berlin a day later.

Sunday, President Jacques Chirac will preside at a memorial service on the Champs-Elysees in Paris. Also Sunday, Britain's Prince Charles will lay a wreath at a war-memorial in central London.