The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has refuted claims made by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte regarding a supposed phone call between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin. The MEA has also responded to concerns about potential secondary sanctions from NATO over India's energy imports from Russia, emphasizing India's focus on its energy security.

MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal addressed the issue during a press briefing, dismissing Rutte's statement as "factually incorrect and entirely baseless". Jaiswal clarified that "at no point has Prime Minister Modi spoken with President Putin in the manner suggested" and that "no such conversation has taken place". The MEA has urged the NATO leadership to exercise greater responsibility and accuracy in their public statements. The spokesperson described Rutte's remarks as "speculative or careless" and stated that such misrepresentations of the Prime Minister's engagements are unacceptable.

Rutte's claim, made on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, was that tariffs imposed by the U.S. on India prompted Modi to question Putin about his strategy in the Ukraine war. Rutte said that the tariffs led to "Delhi is now on the phone with Vladimir, Vladimir with Putin in Moscow and Narendra Modi asking, hey, I support you, but again, could you explain to me this strategy? Because I have now been hit by, by these 50% tariffs by the United States".

In response to Rutte's statements, the MEA reiterated India's stance on its energy imports, emphasizing that they are meant to ensure predictable and affordable energy costs for Indian consumers. The MEA has also stated that India will continue to take all necessary measures to safeguard its national interests and economic security. Regarding the broader issue of countries buying Russian oil, in light of potential secondary sanctions, the MEA has said that India is closely monitoring the developments. The MEA has also reiterated that securing the energy needs of the Indian people is an overriding priority, guided by market availability and global circumstances. The MEA has cautioned against any double standards in this matter.