Poland has expressed strong appreciation for India’s role in preventing further escalation of Russia’s war against Ukraine. Deputy Foreign Minister of Poland Władysław Teofil Bartoszewski stated that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi played a crucial role in persuading Russia not to use tactical nuclear weapons in 2022.
Bartoszewski noted that Prime Minister Modi is among the few world leaders whose views are taken seriously by Russian President Vladimir Putin. In an interview with the news agency ANI, he emphasized that India’s longstanding relations with Russia provide New Delhi with a unique position, making it an important player in international efforts to promote peace.
Bartoszewski referred to events from late 2022, asserting that Prime Minister Modi was instrumental in convincing Russia against the use of tactical nuclear weapons during the conflict. He emphasized that “President Putin actually pays attention to what Prime Minister Modi tells him”.
India’s influence on Moscow
Bartoszewski also remarked that Prime Minister Modi is one of the few world leaders capable of influencing the decisions of the Russian president at a time when dialogue with Moscow is becoming increasingly challenging. “Prime Minister Modi is one of the few people who can influence President Putin, and this is obviously something that India could do to help stop this conflict”, Bartoszewski said.
He noted that calls for restraint are more impactful when they come from countries that Russia does not view as hostile. In addition to India, he mentioned China as another nation whose voice holds significance for Moscow. “Everyone is against escalation, not just India with Prime Minister Modi, but also Xi Jinping from China. This is important, especially when it comes from countries that are not seen as hostile to Russia. India’s role here is crucial”, he added.
Positions of Poland and India on Russian oil
Bartoszewski also reported that Poland and India have managed to bridge their differences regarding New Delhi’s import of discounted Russian crude oil. He acknowledged that Warsaw had previously criticized such purchases, believing they indirectly supported Russia’s military economy.
At the same time, he noted that Poland understands the economic rationale behind India’s decision due to the significant price advantage of Russian oil. According to him, both countries now have a better understanding of each other’s positions, and this issue is no longer a major point of contention in bilateral relations. “We criticized India for buying Russian oil. We understood the economic reason for this, as it was at a significant discount, about 40 percent less than the market price. We understood this, but it fueled the Russian military economy. Therefore, we had a different opinion on this”, Bartoszewski explained.
Source: NDTV Hindi
