Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will not attend Russia’s Victory Day military parade next week, the Kremlin confirmed Wednesday, as India grapples with heightened tensions with Pakistan following a deadly attack in Kashmir.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters that Modi, although invited, will not be present at the May 9 parade in Moscow marking the 80th anniversary of the Soviet victory in World War II. “The Indian leader will not come. India will be represented, but at a lower level,” Peskov said.
Shortly after, the Indian government announced that Defense Minister Rajnath Singh would represent India at the event instead.
The change in plans comes amid a sharp deterioration in India-Pakistan relations after a deadly April 22 attack in Indian-administered Kashmir that left 26 Hindu pilgrims dead. India has blamed Pakistan for the incident and authorized its military to take “complete operational freedom” in its response. Pakistan, denying any involvement, has claimed it possesses credible intelligence warning of an imminent Indian strike within the next 24 to 36 hours.
Meanwhile, President Vladimir Putin has proposed a 72-hour ceasefire in Ukraine to coincide with the Victory Day celebrations, though Kyiv has dismissed the offer as a symbolic gesture designed to stall fighting rather than promote peace.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has expressed concern about the safety of the Red Square parade, suggesting Russia is increasingly anxious about potential threats. Peskov, however, brushed off those concerns, asserting: “There will be a Victory Day parade in Moscow, and we’ll proudly watch it.”
This year marks Russia’s fourth Victory Day celebration since launching its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. According to Russia’s Defense Ministry, troops from 19 countries were invited to participate in the parade, with 10 confirming their attendance. Japanese media have also reported that North Korean troops may join the event for the first time, though Peskov said he had no information on that.
