Incident & reaction
Bengaluru, September 26, 2025 — India has dismissed as “factually incorrect and entirely baseless” NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte’s claim that Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin regarding Ukraine war strategy.
Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal clarified, “At no point has Prime Minister Modi spoken with President Putin in the manner suggested. No such conversation has taken place.” He added that speculative remarks misrepresent the Prime Minister’s engagements and are unacceptable.
Government & official statements
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated, “At no point has Prime Minister Modi spoken with President Putin in the manner suggested. No such conversation has taken place. Speculative remarks of this nature are factually incorrect, misleading, and completely unacceptable.”
This official response reiterates India’s long-standing emphasis on accuracy in international reporting. Government sources indicate that the MEA has also reached out to concerned stakeholders to clarify India’s official position and to prevent further dissemination of unverified claims.
Context & implications
The statement comes amid heightened global attention on India-Russia relations and the ongoing Ukraine conflict. Analysts say such claims, if unverified, can lead to diplomatic misunderstandings and unnecessary speculation about India’s foreign policy stance.
Conclusion
India’s firm rejection of the claim reiterates its official position and highlights the importance of verifying statements before attributing conversations between world leaders.