'Putin pays attention to what PM Modi says': Polish top official on India's key role in Ukraine war

NEW DELHI: Poland on Monday said Russian President Vladimir Putin “pays close attention” to what Prime Minister Narendra Modi says, describing India’s role in efforts to prevent further escalation in the Russia-Ukraine conflict as “crucial.”Speaking on India’s role in the Ukraine-Russia war, Poland’s secretary of state at the ministry of foreign affairs, Władysław Teofil Bartoszewski, said, “India is a very important international player. President Putin pays attention to what Prime Minister Modi says.”“The problem is that President Putin has decided that the only right solution is to control all of Ukraine, which is not going to happen,” he added.Further highlighting India’s influence, Bartoszewski said, “In terms of escalation, everybody is against it, not only India with Prime Minister Modi, but also China’s Xi Jinping… It’s important, especially coming from people who are not seen as hostile to Russia… India’s role here is crucial.”Earlier in June, the Russian president also praised India’s independent foreign policy and defended PM Modi against external pressure over New Delhi’s ties with Moscow.Speaking to reporters in St. Petersburg in June, Putin said the United States was attempting to pressure India because of its engagement with Russia, but maintained that such efforts would not succeed.It was “useless to try to pressurise Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” Putin said according to Reuters. The Russian president also described India as a trusted partner, saying Moscow saw no negative consequences in India’s relations with other countries.“India is among the world’s major economies and is currently demonstrating an impressive rate of economic growth,” Putin said.Expressing optimism over economic ties, he added, “I am confident that Russia and India will reach $100 billion in bilateral trade in the coming years.” Putin also described India as a great nation and a democracy that pursues its national interests, according to PTI.The Russia-Ukraine war has stretched far beyond initial expectations. More than four years after Russian forces launched their invasion in February 2022, the conflict has lasted longer than World War I.Despite repeated diplomatic initiatives, efforts to bring Moscow and Kyiv to the negotiating table have failed to produce a lasting peace.US President Donald Trump, who has often projected himself as a leader capable of brokering major international agreements, also attempted to play the role of mediator.However, the Ukraine conflict has remained resistant to diplomatic breakthroughs, with no meaningful progress towards a durable settlement so far.