PM Modi's views on nuclear weapons could have averted global disaster related to Ukraine war: CIA chief

Washington: Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Bill Burns said Prime Minister Narendra Modi's views on the use of weapons had an impact on the Russians and could have averted a global disaster in the context of the Ukraine war.

On December 16, PM Modi told Putin that dialogue and diplomacy are the "only way forward," said a statement released by PMO. The Kremlin's statement on the same telephonic conversation said that Vladimir Putin gave fundamental assessments of Russia's line on the Ukrainian direction at the request of Narendra Modi.

Burns added that Chinese President Xi Jinping also raised concerns about the use of nuclear weapons which had an impact on the Russians. "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 told PBS.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on December 3 warned of the "increasing" threat of nuclear war while addressing the Human Rights Council at the Kremlin. According to CNN, Putin said that Russia will fight by "all available means'' at its disposal. He considered Moscow's nuclear arsenal as a "deterrent rather than a provocation."

"As for the idea that Russia wouldn't use such weapons first under any circumstances, then it means we wouldn't be able to be the second to use them either - because the possibility to do so in case of an attack on our territory would be very limited," said Putin.

A press release issued by PMO said that PM Modi emphasised the importance India attaches to the safety and security of nuclear installations, including in Ukraine. "He underlined that endangerment of nuclear facilities could have far-reaching and catastrophic consequences for public health and the environment."