New York / Delhi / Moscow: After NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte made public remarks asserting that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had sought clarity from Russian President Vladimir Putin on Moscow’s strategy toward Ukraine, India dismissed such claims on Friday. “We have seen the statement by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte regarding a purported phone conversation between Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India and President Vladimir Putin of Russia. This statement is factually incorrect and entirely baseless. At no point has Prime Minister Modi spoken with President Putin in the manner suggested. No such conversation has taken place,” said Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal at a press briefing.
“We expect the leadership of an important and esteemed institution like NATO to exercise greater responsibility and accuracy in public statements. Speculative or careless remarks that misrepresent the Prime Minister’s engagement or suggest conversations that never occurred are unacceptable. As previously stated, India’s energy imports are meant to ensure a predictable and affordable energy cost to the Indian consumer. India will continue taking all necessary measures to safeguard its national interests and economic security,” he added.
#WATCH | Delhi | MEA Official Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal says, “We have seen the statement by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte regarding a purported phone conversation between Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India and President Vladimir Putin of Russia. This statement is… pic.twitter.com/cuWzj3SeoB
— ANI (@ANI) September 26, 2025
Speaking to CNN on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Rutte said: “This (tariff) immediately impacts Russia because that means Delhi is now on the phone with Vladimir Putin … and Narendra Modi is asking him, ‘I support you, but could you explain me your strategy because I have now been hit by these 50% tariffs by the United States.’”
“Trump’s tariffs on India are having a big impact on Russia. Delhi is on the phone with Putin and Narendra Modi is asking him to explain his strategy on Ukraine because India is being hit with tariffs,” says NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte pic.twitter.com/ON44ej6jZ7
— Shashank Mattoo (@MattooShashank) September 26, 2025
He emphasized that the US President, Donald Trump, has levied a combined 50 percent reciprocal and penalty tariff on India, including an additional 25 percent charge related to India’s purchase of Russian oil.
According to Rutte, these tariffs are having a “big impact” on Moscow. As of yet, the Russian authorities in Moscow have not issued any immediate comment or response to Rutte’s statements.
Trump’s tariffs announced last month include 25 percent reciprocal tariffs on India, together with an additional 25 percent penalty tied to India’s purchase of Russian oil.
Trump has also publicly urged NATO countries to impose steep tariffs on China and to stop purchasing oil from Russia, arguing that coordinated pressure is necessary to affect Moscow’s conduct in the Ukraine conflict.
Meanwhile, diplomatic and trade engagement between the U.S. and India continues. A delegation led by India’s Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal met US officials in New York recently to advance bilateral trade talks.
PM Modi and President Putin last spoke by phone on Modi’s 75th birthday (September 17). In prior conversations, Modi has reiterated India’s support for a peaceful resolution of the Ukraine war.
During the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin, the two leaders also spent time traveling together en route to their bilateral meeting; the Indian side has described their conversations as “insightful.”