Poland's Deputy Foreign Minister and Secretary of State, Władysław Teofil Bartoszewski, stated on Monday that the country is "grateful" for India's role in the Russia-Ukraine war. He also shared that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had convinced Russian President Vladimir Putin not to use tactical nuclear weapons.

“We had a great visit of PM Modi to Warsaw. PM Modi did persuade Putin not to use nuclear tactical weapons. We want permanent peace. We want stable and sustainable peace in Ukraine," he told CNN-News18 in an exclusive interview. Bartoszewski's statement follows Prime Minister Narendra Modi's remarks during a podcast with Lex Fridman, where he emphasised that peace can only be achieved through negotiations rather than conflict. Modi urged both sides involved in the war to engage in dialogue.

"I have a close relationship with Russia and Ukraine alike. I can sit with President Putin and say that this is not the time for war, and I can also tell President Zelenskyy in a friendly way that brother, regardless of how many people stand with you in the world, there will never be a resolution on the battlefield," he said. He also added, “The resolution will only come when both Ukraine and Russia come to the negotiating table. Ukraine may hold countless discussions with their allies, but it will bear no fruit. Discussions must include both parties instead. Initially, it was challenging to find peace, but now the current situation presents an opportunity for meaningful and productive talks between Ukraine and Russia." Clarifying his position on the war, the prime minister said, “I have always maintained that I stand with peace. I am not neutral. I have a stance, and that is peace."

During his podcast, PM Modi mentioned that global conflicts are increasing because international organisations that were once influential have now become nearly ineffective. “International organisations that were once powerful have become almost irrelevant. No real reforms are happening. Institutions, like the UN, are failing to fulfil their roles." Urging countries to let go of conflict for the greater good, the prime minister explained: 'People, who disregard international laws and rules, continue to act freely, and no one can stop them. In such situations, the prudent choice for everyone is to let go of conflict and move toward cooperation." Bartoszewski, meanwhile, added Poland had helped Ukraine “since the very beginning of the war". “We have thousands of migrants coming from Ukraine into Poland. We are ready to provide peacekeeping force and military support."