Modi Skips Moscow’s Victory Day Parade

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has declined Russian President Vladimir Putin's invitation to attend the May 9 Victory Day parade in Moscow, the Kremlin confirmed. India will still send a junior-level delegation, but the absence of top leadership follows the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack (26 killed), which India has attributed to Pakistan-backed Lashkar-e-Taiba. Modi has since devoted attention to internal security, chairing top-level meetings to coordinate countermeasures.

 

Key points:

 

Geopolitical balancing: India is a major Russian discounted oil buyer but avoids overt alignment under Western sanctions against Ukraine.

 

China's presence: President Xi Jinping will join the parade, indicating increased Russia-China relations.

 

Defence delegation: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, according to reports, may be sent as India's representative but is unconfirmed.

 

The selection shows India's guarded diplomacy during its management of Russia's actions toward Ukraine and regional tensions with Pakistan and China.

 

Sources: TASS, Indian Express, Kyiv Independent