The US said PM Narendra Modi's views on the use of nuclear weapons, combined with those of Chinese President Xi Jinping, had an impact on the Russians and may have prevented a worldwide catastrophe in the context of the Ukraine war. This was further support for India's stance on the conflict.
India has repeatedly urged discussion and diplomacy to end the crisis while cautioning against the deployment of nuclear weapons in the Ukraine war. Before Russian President Vladimir Putin, Modi has often emphasised the necessity of ending the conflict. “I think it’s also been very useful that Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Modi in India have also raised their concerns about the use of nuclear weapons as well. I think that's also having an impact on the Russians," director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Bill Burns said, according to an interview to the broadcaster.
“I think the sabre-rattling is meant to intimidate. We don't see any clear evidence today of plans to use tactical nuclear weapons," he added. The CIA director made his comments on the same day that Russian President Vladimir Putin acknowledged that the conflict is "going to take some time." Moreover, he foresaw the "growing" danger of nuclear conflict. In his address at the meeting of Russia’s Human Rights Council at the Kremlin, Putin said that Russia will fight by “all available means” at its disposal, according to CNN. Putin said that he considered Moscow's nuclear arsenal as a “deterrent rather than a provocation”.