India has firmly rejected the statements made by NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte regarding an alleged phone conversation between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin about Ukraine. The Ministry of External Affairs has described these claims as entirely false and baseless. During a weekly press conference on Thursday, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal categorically dismissed Rutte’s assertions, stating that no such discussion ever occurred between the two leaders. The NATO chief had previously informed CNN that Modi was reaching out to Putin for clarification on Russia’s strategy in Ukraine due to increased tariffs imposed by the United States on India.
Rutte claimed that New Delhi was in communication with Moscow because of these penalties, suggesting that Modi was urging Putin to clarify his position regarding the Ukraine conflict. These remarks elicited a swift and strong reaction from India’s foreign ministry. Jaiswal clarified that Prime Minister Modi did not engage in any conversation with President Putin as described by the NATO leadership. He emphasized that such speculative and incorrect statements from the head of a notable international organization like NATO are entirely unacceptable. The MEA spokesperson highlighted India’s expectation that leaders of significant global institutions should exercise greater responsibility and accuracy in their public statements.
He pointed out that careless or speculative remarks that misrepresent the Prime Minister’s diplomatic activities or imply non-existent discussions will not be tolerated. This incident comes amid recent U.S. trade actions against India. President Donald Trump has recently raised tariffs on Indian goods to 50 percent, increasing existing levies by an additional 25 percent in response to India’s continued purchase of Russian oil. Addressing ongoing conversations about India-Russia relations and the effects of American tariffs, the MEA spokesperson reiterated that New Delhi’s decisions regarding energy procurement aim to ensure stable and affordable energy prices for Indian consumers. Jaiswal affirmed that India remains dedicated to taking all necessary measures to safeguard its national interests and economic stability.
Despite tariff-related tensions, trade negotiations between India and the United States are ongoing. Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal is currently leading a delegation in New York for these discussions. Following recent meetings with U.S. representatives in New Delhi on September 16, both nations have expressed their commitment to achieving an early and mutually beneficial bilateral trade agreement.