<h1>Government calls NATO official's claim that prime minister phoned Russian president entirely baseless and defends crude purchases</h1> A government rejected as 'entirely baseless' a NATO official's claim that the prime minister phoned the Russian president to seek a Ukraine strategy amid punitive US tariffs, formally denying any such conversation and demanding greater responsibility in public statements. The foreign ministry framed the dispute as one over factual misrepresentation and defended continued purchases of discounted Russian crude as driven by national interest and energy security, rejecting accusations that such procurement funds the conflict. The statement also criticized perceived double standards in calls to halt Russian energy imports and reiterated intent to protect economic and strategic interests.