Cossacks march toward Red Square to attend a rehearsal for the Victory Day military parade in Moscow, Russia, on April 29, 2025
| Photo Credit: AP

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will not attend the 80th anniversary celebrations of Victory Day to be held in Moscow next month, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Wednesday (April 30, 2025).

“India will not be represented at the highest level”, Mr. Peskov said.

According to local media reports Defence Minister Rajnath Singh could represent India instead of Mr. Modi at the May 9 event.

President Vladimir Putin had invited Mr. Modi and Xi Jinping of China to attend the V-day celebration in Moscow to watch the victory parade at the Red Square.

Mr. Xi has confirmed that he will attend the event. Preparations are underway to host about 20 foreign leaders in Moscow.

May 9 marks the allied nations’ victory over Nazi Germany in 1945. Russia’s state-run news agency quoted Putin as saying on Tuesday, “On the banks of the Volga, our troops halted and crushed the enemy. A decisive blow was delivered to the Nazi war machine, marking a turning point in the war and opening the road westward — to Berlin and to the Great Victory, whose 80th anniversary we will solemnly celebrate very soon, on May 9.”