NATO chief's Modi-Putin talks claim baseless: MEA

NEW DELHI: India on Friday slammed the claims made by Mark Rutte, secretary-general of NATO, that tariffs imposed by the US led to India asking Russia to explain its Ukraine war strategy as "factually incorrect and entirely baseless".

India slammed the Nato chief for claiming that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had spoken directly with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the matter.

In a statement issued on Friday, the Ministry of External Affairs said no such talks took place, and asked the NATO chief to exercise caution in the future.


"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," MEA spokesperson said. Urging Rutte to exercise caution, India said it hoped that the Nato chief would be more responsible with his public statements.