Moscow, June 12 (IANS) Russia acknowledged that all previously issued invitations to the Victory Parade in Moscow were still on the table and 12 leaders had confirmed they would attend the event, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said.

"We confirmed that all invitations are still active for all those invited to the parade (initially) planned for May 9. We already received confirmations from 12 heads of state, most of whom are of the CIS Commonwealth of Independent States)," TASS News Agency quoted Lavrov as saying on Thursday.

On May 26, President Vladimir Putin announced at a meeting with Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu that the Victory Parade will take place on June 24 and ordered to launch preparations to hold it.

Putin explained that he had chosen the date since June 24 was the day when back in 1945 the legendary historic parade of victors took place on Red Square.

--IANS ksk/