The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Friday strongly refuted recent claims made by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte about a purported phone conversation between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin. MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal described the statement as “factually incorrect and entirely baseless.”
India refutes NATO Secretary General’s Modi-Putin call claim
Jaiswal emphasised that no such conversation took place and has urged esteemed organisation like NATO to exercise greater responsibility and accuracy in its public statements, warning against speculative remarks that misrepresent India’s diplomatic engagements. He reaffirmed India’s commitment to securing predictable and affordable energy supplies to protect its national interests and economic security.
“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. 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,” Jaiswal stated during MEA’s weekly briefing.
“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
Notably, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte had claimed that US President Donald Trump’s imposition of 50 per cent tariffs on India over Russian oil purchases is having a “big impact” on Moscow. He remarked that PM Modi has sought an explanation from Russia on its strategy in Ukraine, as “India is being hit with tariffs.”
“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,” he told CNN on the sidelines of the recent UNGA session in New York.
