Polish Deputy Foreign Minister Wladyslaw Teofil Bartoszewski has claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi played a key role in persuading Russian President Vladimir Putin not to use tactical nuclear weapons during the Ukraine war in late 2022.

Speaking after the India-Poland Joint Economic Commission meeting in New Delhi on Monday, Bartoszewski said PM Modi is among the few global leaders whose views carry weight with Putin because of India’s long-standing strategic relationship with Russia.

Polish Minister Credits PM Modi’s Influence

Bartoszewski said India’s historical ties with Russia have enabled PM Modi to maintain a level of influence with President Putin that few other leaders possess.

“Prime Minister Narendra Modi is a very well-known world statesman, who is very respected. India has a long-standing relationship with the Russian Federation and, before that, with the Soviet Union. President Putin actually pays attention to what Prime Minister Modi tells him,” he said.

He further claimed that PM Modi had exercised that influence during a critical stage of the Ukraine conflict in 2022.

“I mentioned the role Prime Minister Modi played in stopping Putin from using tactical nuclear weapons in Ukraine at the end of 2022. Prime Minister Modi is one of the few people who can actually exert some pressure and influence on President Putin, and that is clearly something India could do to help stop this conflict,” Bartoszewski said.

Remarks Recall India’s Diplomatic Outreach

Bartoszewski’s comments renewed attention on India’s diplomatic engagement during the Russia-Ukraine war, which is now in its fourth year.

In September 2022, PM Modi told Putin that “today’s era is not of war” during a meeting on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Uzbekistan.

Since then, India has consistently called for dialogue and diplomacy while refraining from joining Western sanctions against Russia.

PM Modi has continued to engage with both Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, including a visit to Kyiv in 2024 and meetings with the Ukrainian leader on the sidelines of multilateral summits.

Poland Supports India’s Approach

India has continued importing discounted Russian crude despite sustained pressure from the United States and European countries to reduce energy trade with Moscow.

New Delhi has maintained that its oil purchases are guided by energy security and national interest.

Russian President Vladimir Putin last month described India as a “great country” and defended New Delhi’s independent foreign policy.

Bartoszewski also expressed support for India’s approach towards the conflict involving Iran, noting that New Delhi had balanced its strategic interests while advocating restraint and diplomacy.

“Because you are a big country, an important country, and you benefit from free access to goods, including oil, and you depend very much on the oil and gas from the Gulf. Poland still maintains contact with Iran… We informed them that our preferred solution is a diplomatic one. So we do the same thing as Prime Minister Modi. We try to talk reason, but to moderate effect, I would say,” he said.

Poland Reiterates Support For India’s UNSC Bid

During his remarks, Bartoszewski also reaffirmed Poland’s support for India’s long-standing demand for a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council.

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