Trump or Modi – Who Will Be The Chief Guest At Victory Day Celebrations In Moscow?

Russian Ambassador to India Nikolay Rishatovich Kudashev on Monday said that Moscow was excited to welcome PM Narendra Modi and Indian soldiers at the 75th anniversary of the “victory in the great patriotic war” parade in Moscow on May 9, 2020.

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At the same time, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told reporters that the US President Donald Trump is considering the proposal to visit Moscow after Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invited him to attend the 75th anniversary of victory over Nazi Germany.

During their meeting on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Japan this June, President Putin invited President Trump to next year’s celebrations marking the Victory Day in Moscow on May 9,” Lavrov stated. “Today, I confirmed this invitation upon the president’s orders. President Trump is now considering it.”

The Russian Ambassador to India Nikolay Kudashev, according to HT stated that Moscow wants to further boost its association with India to new heights in 2020 “which is an extraordinary year due to many reasons”. “We are well-prepared to welcome PM Narendra Modi at the 75th anniversary of the victory in the great patriotic war as well as the Indian troops at the 9th May (2020) parade in Moscow,” he said.

The annual parade marks the Allied victory in World War II on the Eastern Front and commemorates the signing of the German act of capitulation to the Allies in Berlin. The Soviet government announced the victory early on 9 May after the signing ceremony in Berlin. Though the official inauguration occurred in 1945 the holiday became a non-labour day only in 1965 and only in certain Soviet republics.

Earlier, US President Donald Trump said that he is considering attending Russia’s Victory Day festivities in Moscow’s Red Square. Trump had stated –

“I am thinking about it,” Trump told reporters at the White House. “It is right in the middle of the political season, so I’ll see if I can do it, but I would love to go if I could.”

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Two U.S. presidents have attended Russia’s Victory Day parade: Bill Clinton in 1995 and George W. Bush in 2005. The 2020 events will mark the 75th anniversary of the 1945 Allied victory over Nazi Germany and are likely to have more splendour than in recent years.

Several Western leaders, including President Barack Obama, declined to attend the 70th anniversary in 2015 because of Russia’s annexation of Crimea the year before.