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India’s Modi to Skip May 9 Moscow’s Victory Day Celebrations, Kremlin Confirms

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Amira Barkhush
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India’s Modi to Skip May 9 Moscow’s Victory Day Celebrations, Kremlin Confirms
Russia’s leader, Vladimir Putin, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi take a walk during an informal meeting at the Novo-Ogaryovo state residence, outside Moscow, on July 8, 2024. (Source: Getty Images)

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will not attend the May 9 celebrations in Moscow, but India will still be represented, RIA Novosti reported on April 30, citing Dmitry Peskov, press secretary to Vladimir Putin.

“The leader of India [Modi] will not come, he will not come. India will be represented, but not at the highest level,” Peskov told reporters.

He did not specify the prime minister’s reasons for declining the invitation.

India, which has now become one of Russia’s largest buyers of discounted oil products, has maintained a neutral stance on Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine.

On April 15, Peskov said that more than 20 heads of state and government were expected to attend the Victory Day Parade in Moscow on May 9.

On April 14, the EU’s top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, warned European leaders against participating in Moscow’s military celebrations on May 9, inviting them to show solidarity with Ukraine instead.

“What was also discussed very clearly, and said by different member states, is that any participation in the 9th May parades or celebrations in Moscow will not be taken lightly on the European side, considering that Russia is really waging a full-scale war in Europe,” Kallas told journalists in Luxembourg following a meeting of foreign ministers.

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