Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is likely to attend Russia’s Victory Day parade on May 9. The event will mark 80 years since the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II. Although Russia invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he is unlikely to make the trip, according to reports.

Singh Visited Russia Last December

Previously, in December, Singh travelled to Russia. He took part in the commissioning ceremony of INS Tushil in Kaliningrad. Additionally, he visited the ‘Tomb of the Unknown Soldier’ in Moscow. There, he paid tribute to Soviet soldiers who died during the war. Moreover, he met with members of the Indian community during his visit.

Russia Officially Invited PM Modi

Later, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko confirmed the invitation. He told the state-run Tass news agency that Moscow had invited PM Modi to the May 9 parade. Furthermore, he said discussions about the visit were ongoing.

India Responds to the Invitation

Meanwhile, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal confirmed the invite. He stated, “We will announce our participation at the appropriate time.”

PM Modi’s Recent Visits to Russia

In July 2023, Modi visited Moscow for the 22nd India-Russia summit. Notably, it was his first trip to Russia in nearly five years. Earlier, in 2019, he travelled to Vladivostok to attend an economic forum. In October, he also went to Kazan for the BRICS summit. During that trip, he invited President Vladimir Putin to visit India.