or potentially fatal infections in blood tests, and

on Thursday, bringing together one of the largest gatherings of WW2 veterans and their families on VE Day., VE Day is being marked by illuminating landmark buildings as well as a ceremonial beacon. The Channel Islands were occupied by the Germans from 1940 to 1945. To hear more about the island's history and liberation, listen to

, there will be guided tours of wartime landmarks. Over the weekend in Pontypool Wales, the, is hosting a Great Victory Bake off, a Knit for Victory event and a costume competition. On the UK's north coast at, a "full programme of music, dance and entertainment" is slated to celebrate Scotland's wartime and community spirt.

On Monday, more than 1,300 armed forces and members of the public took part in a military procession from Whitehall to Buckingham Palace. You can watch the parade onThe event began in Parliament Square with actor Timothy Spall reciting extracts from Prime Minister Winston Churchill's famous VE Day speech. The procession travelled down Whitehall, past the Cenotaph, through Admiralty Arch and up the Mall.

World War Two veterans watched the event from the end of the Mall at the Queen Victoria Memorial, alongside the King, Queen and Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

The procession was followed by a flypast of current and historic military aircraft. Led by one of two operational Lancaster bombers as well as some of the most advanced combat aircraft, it also featured the Royal Air Force's Red Arrows, famous for their red, white and blue smoke trails in the sky.While details of the Ukrainian plan have been kept under wraps, the strategy is likely to contain pleas for further military and financial support, plus future security guarantees.

Zelensky says it is designed to be a “bridge” towards stopping the war, which he believes could end sooner than people think.If the West strengthens Ukraine’s position, he argues Russia’s Vladimir Putin could be pushed into a diplomatic peace.

"This war can't be calmed by talks. Action is needed," he told the UN Security Council late on Tuesday.Ever sharp at public relations, Ukraine’s president is also aiming to take on critics in the US who have questioned the wisdom of pouring further money into Ukraine’s cause – by promoting an apparent blueprint for eventual peace.