Mark Rutte had claimed that New Delhi had Moscow explain its Ukraine strategy after the US imposed 50% tariffs New Delhi has rejected NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte’s claim that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi phoned Russian President Vladimir Putin after his country was hit by US tariffs to ask about Moscow’s Ukraine strategy. At a press briefing on Friday, Indian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Randhir Jaiswal said Rutte’s claims were “factually incorrect and entirely baseless.”On Thursday, Rutte told CNN journalist Christiane Amanpour that US President Donald Trump’s decision in August to impose 50% tariffs on most Indian imports, which included 25% punitive levies for New Delhi’s imports of Russian oil, prompted Modi to call Putin.“Delhi is now on the phone with Vladimir Putin in Moscow, and Narendra Modi is asking him, ‘I support you, but could you explain me your strategy,’” Rutte said. ❗️'Factually Incorrect & Entirely Baseless': MEA TRASHES NATO Chief Rutte's Claims About PM Modi & Vladimir Putin ConversationMark Rutte previously claimed that Trump's tariffs mean "Delhi is now on the phone with Vladimir Putin in Moscow, and Narendra Modi is asking him, 'I… https://t.co/4vCyq4BAf2 pic.twitter.com/yvMJGi2hnp— RT_India (@RT_India_news) September 26, 2025 Jaiswal denied that the conversation even took place. “At no point has Prime Minister Modi spoken with President Putin in the manner suggested,” he said. “We expect the leadership of an important institution like NATO to exercise greater responsibility and accuracy in public statements.”The spokesman added that “speculative or careless remarks” that “misrepresent” Modi’s engagements “or suggest conversations that never occurred are unacceptable.”Jaiswal said India’s energy imports “are meant to ensure predictable and affordable energy costs to the Indian consumer.” He reiterated that the South Asian nation would “continue taking all necessary measures to safeguard its national interests and economic security.”Earlier this week, Trump accused India and China of bankrolling the Ukraine conflict by purchasing Russian hydrocarbons. “China and India are the primary funders of the ongoing war by continuing to purchase Russian oil,” he said. Since the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in February 2022, Russia has become India’s leading oil supplier, providing for nearly 40% of its crude imports. The South Asian nation’s purchase of the crude rose 5.6% last month to 1.6 million barrels per day.