**India’s PM Modi Declines Invitation to Moscow Victory Day Parade**
In a significant move, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has declined an invitation from Russian President Vladimir Putin to attend the Victory Day parade in Moscow on May 9. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed the news on April 30, according to RIA Novosti.
While India will be represented at the event, it will not be at the highest level, with Peskov failing to specify Modi’s reasons for refusing the invitation. This development comes as India has maintained a neutral stance on Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine, emerging as Russia’s largest buyer of discounted oil products amidst Western sanctions.
**A Strategic Move or Diplomatic Gesture?**
Modi received the official invitation in early April, with Russian state news agency TASS previously suggesting his participation was “very likely.” However, it appears that India is now taking a more cautious approach to its relations with Russia. By declining the invitation, Modi may be signaling that India will not take sides in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
**China’s Growing Influence**
Meanwhile, China has deepened its partnership with Russia since the invasion of Ukraine, becoming Moscow’s primary supplier of dual-use goods critical to Russia’s defense industry. Russian President Putin will attend the parade and make a separate bilateral visit, while Chinese President Xi Jinping is also expected to attend.
The Kremlin uses the annual Victory Day parade to showcase its military power and invoke Soviet World War II victories to justify its aggression against Ukraine. In contrast, Ukraine has distanced itself from Soviet-era commemorations, with President Volodymyr Zelensky signing a law in 2023 moving Ukraine’s World War II remembrance to May 8.
**A Symbolic Counter**
Kyiv has invited top European Union officials to visit Ukraine on May 9, in a symbolic counter to Moscow’s parade. Putin recently announced a “humanitarian” ceasefire from May 8 to May 11 to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe.
As tensions between Russia and the West continue to escalate, Modi’s decision to decline the invitation may be seen as a strategic move by India to maintain its neutrality in the conflict. However, it remains to be seen how this development will impact India-Russia relations and the country’s stance on the Ukraine crisis.
