Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskyy warned the foreign guests of Russia who were invited to mark the nation’s 80th anniversary of Victory Day at the Kremlin that he could not guarantee their safety while rejecting Russia’s three-day ceasefire offer. The foreign dignitaries would witness the Red Square Parade on May 9.
‘We will not give you any guarantees’
According to PTI, the RBC news portal quoted Zelenskyy as saying: “We cannot be responsible for what happens on the territory of the Russian Federation. They provide you with security, and therefore we will not give you any guarantees.”
‘Russia must stop the war’
Zelenskyy posted on X, “We are ready to move toward a ceasefire even starting today, if Russia is ready to take reciprocal steps: complete silence, a lasting ceasefire of at least 30 days. That’s a fair timeframe to prepare the next steps. Russia must stop the war—halt its assaults and shelling.”
The leaders of more than 20 countries, including Chinese President Xi Jinping, are expected to attend the event.
MoS Defence Sanjay Seth will represent India
MoS Defence Sanjay Seth will represent India at the upcoming Victory Day Parade in Moscow. According to reports, Russia had invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi to attend the event. However, the Indian side conveyed earlier that Defence Minister Rajnath Singh would represent the country at the parade instead.
PM Modi had to attened the event
Earlier, Russian Presidential Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov had confirmed to state news agency TASS that Prime Minister Modi would not attend the Victory Day celebrations in Moscow.
Rajnath had paid tribute at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
Rajnath Singh last visited Russia in December 2023 for the commissioning ceremony of the Indian Navy’s INS Tushil in Kaliningrad. During that trip, he also paid tribute at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Moscow, honouring Soviet soldiers who died in World War II. He also interacted with members of the Indian community.
Victory Day commemorates the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany in World War II and is marked with a grand military parade in the Russian capital.
