- By Ajeet Kumar
- Wed, 30 Apr 2025 02:43 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will not attend the Victory Day Parade in Moscow, Dmitry Peskov, Press Secretary of the President of Russia said on Wednesday. Earlier this month, the Ministry of External Affairs had confirmed that the Prime Minister had received an invitation to participate in Russia's Victory Day celebrations on May 9.
Russia invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi to attend the May 9 celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of victory over Germany in World War II, Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko said. Later, the same was echoed by MEA. Moscow was expecting the Prime Minister at the May 9 parade. The cancellation of PM Modi's Russia visit is yet to be announced by MEA, it is likely the decision was taken following the deadly attack on Pahalgam. At least 26 tourists were killed in the attack.
According to the sources of news agency PTI, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will attend the Victory Day celebrations in Moscow. An official confirmation from the Defence Ministry is still awaited
Russia Victory Day Parade
Russia has invited leaders of several friendly nations to attend this year's Victory Day parade. In January 1945, the Soviet Army launched an offensive against Germany. The commanders-in-chief on May 9 signed the Act of Unconditional Surrender of Germany which ended the war.
In July last, Prime Minister Modi visited Moscow to attend the 22nd Russia-India summit, 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. In October last, PM Modi visited the Russian city of Kazan for the BRICS summit.
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During his last visit, PM Modi invited Russian President Vladimir Putin to visit India. Putin has already accepted PM Modi's invitation to visit India. He is expected to travel to India this year as part of the established framework for reciprocal annual engagements between the leaders of the two nations. However, the dates of Putin's visit have not been revealed yet.
India-Russia ties
In his congratulatory message to President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Modi on the occasion of India's 76th Republic Day in January, Putin said that Russian-Indian relations are based on "special and privileged strategic partnership". Putin and PM Modi maintain regular contact, holding telephone conversations once every couple of months. The two leaders also hold in-person meetings, particularly on the sidelines of international events.