"Factually incorrect" :::::: India rejected claims made by NATO chief that 'tariffs' imposed by US led Modi asking Russia to explain its Ukraine war strategy

"No such conversation has taken place" 

India blasts Nato chief for careless 'Modi called Putin for Ukraine plan' remark

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

India on Friday rejected outright the claims made by Mark Rutte, secretary-general of the western military alliance Nato, that tariffs imposed by the US led to India asking Russia to explain its Ukraine war strategy as "factually incorrect and entirely baseless". 

In an official 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," the official statement released by MEA said.  

Speaking to CNN on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York on Thursday, Rutte had said that US President Donald Trump’s tariffs on India were having a big impact on Russia. 

He said Delhi was on the phone with Putin, and Narendra Modi was asking him to explain his strategy on Ukraine because India was being hit with tariffs.  

"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 stressed.