New Delhi: Radosław Sikorski, the Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Monday likened India’s concerns on cross-border terrorism emanating from Pakistan to Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine, adding that both issues were discussed “frankly” with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar.
“Well, we all have regional concerns and we all have neighbours, and with neighbours you have opportunities and challenges. So, yes, we did discuss it (cross-border terrorism). And as I said… on terrorism, we are in one mind. And, of course, we also have concerns. India took part in the Zapad exercises in Russia that we find threatening. So I was very glad that we were able to discuss frankly what’s on our minds,” Sikorski said in response to a question from ThePrint at a press interaction.
The Polish Deputy Prime Minister started his statement with: “Both of our countries condemn the crossing of international borders, either by tanks or by terrorists. Both India and Poland are victims of transnational terrorists, and therefore we condemn it in the strongest terms. Again, I’m delighted to be here again and looking forward to further developing mutually beneficial relations.”
Poland has been one of the biggest supporters of Ukraine in the ongoing war that began in February 2022. Warsaw, as a part of the European Union (EU), agreed to loan Ukraine EUR 90 billion to enable Kyiv to “sustain” its defence for another two years, Sikorski noted.
The Polish Deputy Prime Minister had visited Pakistan in October 2025, a visit Jaishankar raised in his opening remarks during the meeting between the two Monday afternoon. The Indian External Affairs Minister said he looks forward to discussions on Sikorski’s visit to the region, and called on Warsaw to condemn cross-border terrorism.
New Delhi and Warsaw have differing views on the Russia-Ukraine war. For India, Russia has been a steadfast partner and has since become the largest supplier of energy resources to New Delhi. India had purchased crude worth around $56 billion from Russia in the last financial year.
However, its purchases of Russian crude have been curtailed in the last few months, especially after US President Donald J. Trump sanctioned Rosneft and Lukoil—two of Moscow’s largest oil entities. Sikorski has repeatedly praised India’s curbing of Russian oil purchases.
Jaishankar took issue with the singling out of Indian purchases of Russian oil in his opening remarks with Sikorski, calling it “unjust” and “unfair”. Sikorski highlighted that he is “confident” India will help convince Moscow to end the war peacefully.
“We hope that President Putin will finally admit that the invasion of Ukraine was a costly criminal mistake and end this war which is right now keeping people freezing in Kiev in temperatures that go below zero, and a power plant and heating plant being deliberately targeted. So I am confident that India will be among those countries that urge the perpetrator of this act of aggression towards settling it without further bloodshed,” said Sikorski.
The Polish Deputy Prime Minister defended the EU’s sanctions as valid “countermeasures” against Russia due to President Vladimir V. Putin’s actions in Ukraine.”
“Well, we have sanctioned Russia, but that was because Russia broke the Budapest Memorandum, under which Ukraine gave up its nuclear weapons, and Russia broke the border treaty between the two countries, actually signed by Vladimir Putin, and Russia broke the UN Charter by invading another country… So in those circumstances, imposing sanctions, in other words, taking countermeasures by the international community against the aggressor, is justified. In many other circumstances, it is not justified,” said Sikorski.
Apart from regional issues, both sides discussed further deepening economic cooperation, increasing trade as well as security and defence issues. The meeting between Jaishankar and Sikorski extended by about an hour past the scheduled time, indicating deep discussions.
The Polish Deputy Prime Minister also met National Security Adviser Ajit Doval for a short meeting, with a focus on increasing defence cooperation. This was Sikorski’s maiden visit to India since taking over as Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister in December 2023.
Sikorski, commenting on the issue of US’ latest tariffs on European countries due to President Trump’s calls for the purchase of Greenland, said that Warsaw “does not like tariffs”. Six EU members along with the UK and Norway have seen 10 per cent tariffs imposed due to their strong defence of Danish sovereignty over the autonomous territory, which has come under intense scrutiny by Washington.
(Edited by Viny Mishra)