Modi's ties with Putin might aid Ukraine war talks

Poland's Deputy Foreign Minister, Wladyslaw Teofil Bartoszewski, has suggested that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin could be useful in peace talks regarding the Russia-Ukraine war. He emphasized that he believes former U.S. President Donald Trump has significant influence over Putin. Bartoszewski made these comments during the Raisaina dialogue in New Delhi. He mentioned that while Modi's connections with Putin might help, Trump seems to be the most effective mediator at this time. He believes it is best to simplify the mediation process by having one person in charge. In addition, Bartoszewski condemned Israel's airstrikes on Gaza, urging for a ceasefire and advocating for a two-state solution. He expressed sorrow over the loss of life and reiterated Poland's long-standing support for peace negotiations. The Deputy Foreign Minister also stated that PM Modi may have played a role in persuading Putin against using nuclear weapons in Ukraine. He noted that after direct calls from Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping, Putin reconsidered his threat to use tactical nuclear weapons. Moreover, there has been a temporary halt to Russian strikes on Ukraine's energy infrastructure following talks between Trump and Putin. Trump described their conversation as productive and mentioned the ongoing steps toward a complete ceasefire in the conflict.