Rutte had told CNN on the sidelines of the UNGA session in New York, “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 per cent tariffs by the United States.”

Responding to this, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) official spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal, said on Friday, “We have seen the statement by NATO Secretary-General Mr. Mark Rutte regarding a purported phone conversation between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Vladimir Putin. 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.”

“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 MEA’s official spokesperson added.

“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,” he said.

Last month, US President Donald Trump imposed a 25 per cent reciprocal tariff on India and an additional 25 per cent as a penalty for buying Russian oil. Trump, who has announced reciprocal tariffs on various countries since returning to power in January, accused New Delhi of funding the war economy of Russia by buying Russian oil. India has maintained that it was buying Russian oil to maintain the global energy supply and to cushion the Indian consumers from the inflationary impact of rising energy prices.

Modi and Putin last spoke over a telephone call on the Prime Minister’s 75th birthday on September 17. According to PM Modi’s office, he reiterated India’s “full support for the peaceful resolution” of the Ukraine conflict, which broke out in February 2022. On September 1, the two leaders spoke for nearly an hour while travelling in the same vehicle to the destination of their hour-long bilateral meeting after the SCO Summit venue in Tianjin, China.-Agencies