India’s role in efforts to prevent further escalation in the Russia-Ukraine war is “crucial” because Russian President Vladimir Putin pays close attention to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s views, Poland’s Secretary of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Władysław Teofil Bartoszewski, said on Monday.

Speaking on the ongoing conflict, Bartoszewski described India as an influential global player whose voice carries weight in Moscow, Times of India report said.

‘Putin pays attention to PM Modi’

“India is a very important international player. President Putin pays attention to what Prime Minister Modi says,” Bartoszewski said.

He added that while Russia continues to pursue control over Ukraine, such an outcome remains unlikely.

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“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 said.

Highlighting New Delhi’s diplomatic influence, Bartoszewski noted that calls for restraint from leaders who are not viewed as hostile to Russia hold particular significance.

“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,” he said.

Putin earlier praised India’s independent foreign policy

The remarks come weeks after Putin publicly 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 attempts by the United States to pressure India over its relationship with Russia would not succeed.

According to Reuters, the Russian president said it was “useless to try to pressurise Prime Minister Narendra Modi.”

Putin also described India as a trusted partner and said Moscow saw no problem in New Delhi maintaining ties with multiple countries.

Calling India one of the world’s leading economies, Putin praised its rapid economic growth and expressed confidence that bilateral trade between the two countries would reach $100 billion in the coming years. He also described India as a great democracy that pursues its national interests.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS ADUkraine war continues without breakthrough

More than four years after Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the conflict continues with no durable peace agreement in sight.

Several diplomatic initiatives have failed to bring Moscow and Kyiv to a lasting settlement. US President Donald Trump has also projected himself as a potential mediator, but the war has so far resisted diplomatic breakthroughs.

Poland backs India’s position on West Asia

During his visit to New Delhi, Bartoszewski also endorsed India’s approach to the ongoing West Asia conflict, describing it as the “right position.”

Speaking to ANI, he said India’s status as a major economy and one of the world’s largest energy importers makes its balanced diplomatic stance particularly important.

“India’s position is the right position 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 oil and gas from the Gulf,” he said.

Bartoszewski added that Poland continues to maintain dialogue with Iran and, like India, believes diplomacy remains the best path forward.

“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.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD‘Strait of Hormuz must remain open’

The Polish minister also stressed that the Strait of Hormuz must remain open to international shipping, warning against any attempt to restrict maritime traffic or impose transit charges.

“The Strait of Hormuz has to be open to traffic. We do not accept closing such waterways. We do not accept the way some people want to charge tolls for crossing the waterways. There is an international agreement that international seas are open to all traffic, and that is Poland’s definite position,” he said.