NEW DELHI: The government on Friday dismissed as incorrect, baseless and unacceptable Nato chief Mark Rutte’s claims that PM Modi, under pressure from the US tariffs on India, had sought an explanation from Russian President Vladimir Putin over his Ukraine strategy. The MEA said that at no point did Modi have any such conversation with Putin and urged the “leadership of an important institution like Nato” to exercise greater responsibility and accuracy in public statements. Nato secretary general Rutte had said in an interview US President Trump’s tariffs on India were having a big impact on Putin. “This (tariff) immediately impacts Russia because that means 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 because I have now been hit by these 50% tariffs by the United States’,” Rutte said.”We have seen the statement by Nato secretary general Mr. Mark Rutte regarding a purported phone conversation between PM Narendra Modi and President Vladimir Putin. At no point has PM Modi spoken with President Putin in the manner suggested. No such conversation has taken place,” said MEA.MEA: Suggesting a talk that never occurred unacceptable Speculative or careless remarks that misrepresent the PM’s engagements or suggest conversations that never occurred are unacceptable, MEA spokesman Randhir Jaiswal added. Since the Russia-Ukraine war began in 2022, India has significantly increased its import of Russian crude oil available at discounted rate. Trump had said India’s oil imports were helping fund the war.The spokesperson said that, as previously stated, India’s energy imports are meant to ensure predictable and affordable energy costs to Indian consumer. “India will continue taking necessary measures to safeguard its national interests and economic security,” he said.President Trump had earlier imposed an additional 25% tariff on India for its purchase of Russian oil, accusing New Delhi of bankrolling Moscow’s war on Ukraine, a move that India describes as unjustified because the US has not taken similar action against other countries like China that continue to procure crude from Russia.
