Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has officially refused to visit Moscow on May 9 to take part in events marking the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II, following many other world leaders who defied joint celebrations with current Russian leaders.
Instead, Netanyahu is to attend a ceremony in Israel on May 7, Ukraine Today reports.
The leaders of the United States, Britain, Germany and France are believed to have made the decision to turn down Moscow’s invitation in response to the Kremlin's ongoing military intervention in Ukraine.
Alexander Lukashenko, the president of Belarus and a long-time Kremlin ally, also recently announced that he would not attend the Moscow commemorations.
Meanwhile, the parade on the Red Square will be attended by Chinese President Xi Jinping and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.
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