Poland’s Deputy Foreign Minister and Secretary of State, Wladyslaw Teofil Bartoszewski, has stated that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi played a significant role in persuading Russian President Vladimir Putin not to use tactical nuclear weapons against Ukraine.
Speaking to media at the Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi, Bartoszewski revealed that while the United States had sent multiple messages to deter Putin, it was calls from India and China that ultimately influenced his decision.
“President Putin was threatening to use tactical nuclear weapons on the territory of Ukraine. The Americans sent lots of messages for him to not think about it… That didn’t necessarily persuade him at first. He received two phone calls—one from the President of China, Xi Jinping, and one from PM Modi, telling him that neither China nor India independently approve of the war. When two major nations, which Russia considers to be friendly, said ‘don’t do it,’ he decided that it is not a good idea. So PM Narendra Modi played a role in it,” Bartoszewski said.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian MP Sviatoslav Yurash highlighted India’s growing global influence and noted that PM Modi’s recent podcast with American research scientist Lex Fridman aligned with Ukraine’s view that war should not be acceptable.
“India decides the fate of the 21st century. Therefore, the podcast was just about Ukraine, from what I understand. The podcast was about many other matters that would be key for this century and the future of humanity. That is why, as far as the perspective on the fact that war is impermissible, Ukrainians would very much agree and desire nothing more,” Yurash remarked.
During his conversation with Fridman, PM Modi outlined India’s stance on global peace efforts, particularly regarding the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
“We seek neither to wage war against nature nor to foster strife among nations. We stand for peace, and wherever we can act as peacemakers, we have gladly embraced that responsibility,” PM Modi said.
Emphasizing the need for direct engagement between warring nations, Modi stated, “Ukraine may hold countless discussions with their allies, but it will bear no fruit. Discussions must include both parties instead.”
Reiterating his stance, he affirmed, “As for me, I have always maintained that I stand with peace. I am not neutral. I have a stance, and that is peace, and peace is what I strive for.”