London

London
Modis Absence at Moscows Victory Day Parade Highlights Rising India-Pakistan Tensions | World | london-news-net.preview-domain.com

Modis Absence at Moscows Victory Day Parade Highlights Rising India-Pakistan Tensions

Modis Absence at Moscows Victory Day Parade Highlights Rising India-Pakistan Tensions

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will skip the annual Victory Day military parade in Russia next week as tensions with Pakistan escalate following a fatal attack in Kashmir, as announced by the Kremlin on Wednesday.

At least 20 foreign leaders, including Chinese President Xi Jinping, have accepted President Vladimir Putin’s invitation to the May 9 event in Red Square, which commemorates the 80th anniversary of the Soviet victory in World War II. Although Modi received an invitation, he has yet to confirm his participation.

“The Indian leader will not be attending. However, India will have representation at a lower level,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov informed reporters on Wednesday.

Following this, India announced that Defense Minister Rajnath Singh would represent the country at the Moscow parade.

Relations between India and Pakistan, both nuclear-armed nations, have significantly worsened after a deadly attack on April 22 in Indian-administered Kashmir that resulted in the deaths of 26 Hindu pilgrims. New Delhi has accused Islamabad of involvement in the attack and has granted its military “full operational freedom” to retaliate. Pakistan, which denies any connection, has warned of a potential Indian counterstrike within the next day or two, citing “credible intelligence.”

In a separate development, President Putin has suggested a 72-hour ceasefire in Ukraine to align with the upcoming Victory Day celebrations—an offer that Kyiv has dismissed as merely a tactical ploy to delay military actions.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky remarked on Tuesday that the Kremlin is “rightly concerned” about security at the parade in Red Square. However, Peskov downplayed these worries on Wednesday, asserting, “The Victory Day parade will take place in Moscow, and we will watch it with pride.”

This year’s event marks the fourth commemoration since Russia launched its large-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

According to Russia’s Defense Ministry, troops from 19 countries have been invited to partake in the parade, with 10 confirming their attendance. Japanese media reports suggest that North Korea is expected to send troops for the first time, although Peskov indicated he was not aware of such plans.

Related posts

Putin’s Alleged Daughter’s Role in Paris Galleries Promoting Anti-War Art Raises Eyebrows

rimmaruslan98@gmail.com

Major General Mikhail Gudkov: A High-Ranking Russian Navy Official Falls in Ukrainian Strike

rimmaruslan98@gmail.com

Russian Ruble Dips After EU Unveils New Sanctions on Energy and Banks Текст: The Russian ruble tumbled sharply on Wednesday, erasing part of its recent gains as investors reacted to fresh concerns over Western sanctions and weakening oil export revenues. The dollar surged nearly 3% in a few hours on the Moscow Exchange, climbing from 78.2 rubles in early trading to 80.49 by 1:45 p.m. local time. The euro jumped above 91 rubles, while the Chinese yuan rose almost 2% to 11.04 rubles. By late afternoon, the ruble had regained some ground, with the dollar retreating to 79.65 and the euro to 91.39. The ruble has been one of the world’s best-performing currencies in 2025, gaining roughly 40% since January. But analysts say the sharp pullback may signal a turning point. Its decline on Wednesday “may be tied to discussions in the EU about a new package of sanctions targeting Russian financial institutions and energy exports,” said Natalia Milchakova, a senior analyst at Freedom Finance Global. A proposed 18th round of EU sanctionsintroducedby the European Commission on Tuesday includes plans to disconnect 22 more Russian banks from the SWIFT global payment system, blacklist dozens of tankers involved in circumventing oil trade restrictions and ban transactions with the Nord Stream gas pipelines. The measures would also lower the price cap on Russian crude exports from $60 to $45 per barrel. Under the cap mechanism, oil sold above the limit would be ineligible for Western insurance and transport services — a move aimed at squeezing revenue from Russian energy exports. Experts warn that these measures, if adopted by the United States and G7 allies, could deliver the most serious blow to Russian oil exports since the European embargo imposed in late 2022. Sanctions have already sidelined much of the Kremlin’s “shadow fleet,” and if the price cap is lowered, Greek shipping firms — which have been instrumental in transporting Russian oil — may exit the market altogether, the Moscow-based Institute for Energy and Finance said. As a result, a noticeable reduction in seaborne oil exports from Russia is likely … and the Russian budget may face an even greater reduction in oil revenues in the second half of this year, the IEF wrote. The ruble is also under seasonal pressure, as exporters appear to have slowed their conversion of foreign currency earnings ahead of the Russia Day holiday weekend, Reuters reported. At the same time, Yevgeny Kogan, a Russian investment banker, said demand for foreign currency may have risen ahead of the long weekend. Adding to the pressure is a decline in oil revenues, which remain the backbone of Russia’s export economy. The average price of Urals crude fell to $52 per barrel in May compared to $66 in January, according to the Economic Development Ministry. That figure represents the lowest level in more than two years. Some analysts believe the ruble’s current weakness may be a harbinger of a more prolonged decline. Kogan predicted the currency could continue to weaken in June and July. Sofya Donets, chief economist at T-Investments,saidpressures could intensify into August, potentially pushing the exchange rate beyond 90 rubles to the dollar. The government-linked Center for Macroeconomic Analysis and Short-Term Forecastingwarnedthat the ruble could experience an “overshoot” in the opposite direction, reversing its earlier gains with a potentially steep depreciation. “The more overvalued the ruble is now,” the group said, “the more vulnerable it is to a sharp correction.”

rimmaruslan98@gmail.com

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Accept Read More