PM Modi To Skip Victory Day Parade In Moscow On May 9

The Ministry of External Affairs had confirmed earlier this month that PM Modi has received an invitation from Russian President Vladimir Putin to attend the 80th Victory Day in Moscow on May 9. 

PM Modi will not be attending the Victory Day parade in Moscow on May 9.

Source : PTI

Prime Minister Modi will not attend the Victory Day parade in Moscow on May 9. According to Dmitry Peskov, spokesman for the Kremlin. India will be represented at a different diplomatic level.

The development comes days after the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirmed on Thursday, April 17, that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has received an invitation from Russian President Vladimir Putin to attend the 80th Victory Day in Moscow next month. 

MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal had stated that an announcement regarding India's participation would be made in due course.

In a weekly media briefing, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal had said: "Our Prime Minister has received an invitation to participate in the Victory Day celebrations. We will be announcing our participation in the Victory Day celebration at the appropriate time."

Singh had visited Russia for the commissioning of INS Tushil in Kaliningrad last December, where he paid tribute at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Moscow.

Russian state news agency TASS had stated that Defence Minister Rajnath Singh may represent India at the Victory Day parade this year. "[Singh's visit to Moscow for the parade] is possible," the agency quoted a source in the Indian government as saying.

Russia celebrates Victory Day to mark the Soviet Union's triumph over Nazi Germany in World War II. It is observed with grand military parades at the Red Square in Moscow.

TASS had reported in February that PM Modi might attend the Victory Day parade to mark the 80th anniversary of the 'Great Patriotic War'. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi is planning a visit to the May 9 parade in Moscow. It is highly likely that it will take place," the agency quoted a military source as saying.

PM Modi visited  Russia in July 2024, his first trip to the country in nearly five years. He had visited the far eastern city of Vladivostok in 2019 to attend an economic conclave.