NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte has claimed that PM Narendra Modi asked Russian President Vladimir Putin to “explain his strategy on Ukraine” amid high tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump. MEA has denied Rutte’s comment, saying it is not only “factually incorrect” but “baseless” as well.
“NATO chief’s statement is factually incorrect and entirely baseless. We expect the leadership of an important institution like NATO to exercise greater responsibility and accuracy in public statements,” the statement read.
‘Delhi on phone with Putin’
Rutte, while speaking to CNN, claimed that PM Modi and President Putin had a call to discuss “strategy on Ukraine”.
“Trump’s tariffs on India are having a big impact on Russia,” NATO Chief told CNN. He added, “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.”
In calling Russia a paper tiger, “President Trump was able to hit a nerve, probably at the highest echelons of the Kremlin,” @NATO chief Mark Rutte tells me. Putin “is now losing in one month what the Soviets lost in 10 years in Afghanistan… So he’s not in a good place.” pic.twitter.com/DD3Fr6DkZt
— Christiane Amanpour (@amanpour) September 25, 2025
On September 25, PM Modi met Deputy PM Dmitry Patrushev at the World Food India 2025. The two exchanged views on enhancing cooperation in agriculture, fertilisers, food processing and other areas of mutual interest. “PM conveyed his warm greetings to President Putin and said that he looked forward to welcoming him to India for the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit,” said a press release from the Prime Minister’s Office.
Trump’s tariffs on India
Trump initially imposed a 25 per cent reciprocal tariff on India. He later doubled this number, bringing the tariffs against India to 50 per cent for buying oil from Russia, which it sees as funding the conflict with Ukraine.
He also urged NATO countries to stop buying oil from Russia to end the war, vowing to impose “major sanctions” against Moscow when NATO countries agree.
Trump added that they should also impose 50-100 per cent tariffs on China. “China has a strong control, and even grip, over Russia, and these powerful tariffs will break that grip,” he further said.
‘India and US are close friends’
Trump, in a Truth Social post earlier this month, said that he looks forward to talking to PM Modi, whom he called his “very good friend”.
“I look forward to speaking with my very good friend, Prime Minister Modi, in the upcoming weeks. I feel certain that there will be no difficulty in coming to a successful conclusion for both our countries,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
PM Modi responded to his post, saying that India and the US are “close friends and natural partners”.