New Delhi:India Friday hit out at NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte’s comment on a ”purported conversation” between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin on the US’ additional tariffs on New Delhi, calling the claims “factually incorrect and entirely baseless”.
“The 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,” Randhir Jaiswal, the Official Spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs, told a regular press briefing.
Jaiswal added, “We expect the leadership of an important institution like NATO to exercise greater responsibility and accuracy in public statements. Speculative or careless remarks that misrepresent the Prime Minister’s engagements or suggest conversations that never occurred are unacceptable.”
The response comes after Rutte suggested in an interview with CNN Thursday that the additional 25 percent tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump on exports from India led Modi to speak to Putin on the matter, calling for an explanation of Russia’s strategy with regards to the war with Ukraine.
Rutte indicated that Trump’s tariffs have had an impact on India’s position on Russia. President Trump and his administration have claimed that India is “funding” Russia’s war machine through its continued purchase of Russian oil. India has maintained that the only solution for the current situation is through dialogue and diplomacy.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar Thursday hit out at the US and the European Union for their usage of punitive measures such as sanctions and tariffs in an attempt to end the almost four year long war.
Trump’s additional tariff of 25 per cent was imposed as a penalty for India’s ongoing purchase of Russian oil. In the last financial year, India bought $56 billion worth of crude from Russia. Peter Navarro, the White House Trade Counsellor last month labelled the ongoing conflict as “Modi’s war.”
On India’s purchase of Russian oil, Jaiswal told the press conference, “As previously stated, India’s energy imports are meant to ensure predictable and affordable energy costs to the Indian consumer. India will continue taking all necessary measures to safeguard its national interests and economic security.”
The official spokesperson further added that there cannot be any “double standards” with regards to the purchase of Russian crude, pointing out that a number of EU countries and members of the G7 continue trade with Russia. The EU continues to purchase large quantities of gas from Russia, along with minerals and other products.
Weekly Media Briefing by the Official Spokesperson (September 26, 2025)
https://t.co/XC8cEDBxIX
— Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) September 26, 2025
EU’s top diplomat Kaja Kallas last week called India’s ties with Russia as an “obstacle” for the larger India-EU relationship. In the EU’s latest sanctions package, the Vadinar refinery in Gujarat was sanctioned. The regional organisation is looking to expand sanctions on private individuals in future packages.
Ties between India and the US have hit a rough patch in the last few months. Negotiations for a bilateral trade agreement between the two countries have been ongoing since it was first announced in February of this year.
Trump has indicated his frustration over the pace of the talks, with India having clear red-lines over opening its agricultural and dairy sectors.
However, Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal led a delegation to the US for negotiations over the bilateral trade deal earlier this week. Goyal has indicated that India may be keen to purchase more crude from the US, a demand of the Trump administration.
India is one of the few countries that have been engaged with both Russia and Ukraine since the outbreak of the war. Modi travelled to both Moscow and Kyiv last year. Putin is expected to visit India later this year for the annual bilateral summit.
(Edited by Ajeet Tiwari)
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