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In a defiant statement to Western nations, Leader Vladimir Putin stated to PM Narendra Modi that Russia stands ready to provide “continuous” supplies of oil to India. These remarks came when Putin and Modi met in New Delhi and asserted their relationship were “resistant to external pressure.”

A Signal For the West

This affirmation, issued after the annual summit, appeared to be a pointed rebuke at the United States and its allies, which have tried to pressure New Delhi into reducing its historical links with Moscow. The context follows recent Washington's moves, notably additional tariffs on India because of its acquisition of discounted Russian crude.

“Our nation is a trustworthy supplier of energy resources and everything necessary for the advancement of India’s energy sector,” the Russian president said. “Russia is prepared to persist in ensuring the uninterrupted flow of energy for the rapidly growing Indian economy.”

Modi, while not referencing crude directly, echoed the sentiment by stating that “energy security has been a key and crucial cornerstone of the Indo-Russian partnership.”

Defying American Pressure

Prior to the talks, during a TV appearance, Putin had criticized US interference on India's oil imports. Putin stated, “If the US is entitled to buy our uranium, then why can't India have the identical right?”

The visit was his maiden visit to India following the beginning of the war in Ukraine, and the two nations engaged in a visible effort to project that the friendship between the men persisted strongly.

A Warm Welcome

Taking an rare gesture, Modi met Putin as he disembarked. The two shared a warm hug akin to close allies before enjoying a private dinner the night before the summit.

He in his statement called India's relationship with Russia as “a guiding star” and added it was “built on shared respect and profound confidence.”

Reaffirming Defence and Economic Partnerships

The bilateral summit yielded a number of important deals in the fields of military and financial collaboration. A cornerstone agreement was the signing of an economic cooperation programme that runs to 2030, which targets to increase twofold commerce to a hundred billion USD each year by the 2030 deadline.

Furthermore agreed to recalibrate their military partnership. Although Russia is still India's largest supplier of arms, its share has reduced in recent years as India aims to broaden its procurement.

The joint statement stressed plans for the collaborative manufacturing of advanced defence platforms, though direct details of purchases such as the Sukhoi Su-57 were omitted.

Ultimately, Moscow and Delhi affirmed that during the “current complex, strained, and volatile geopolitical situation, Russian-Indian ties stay strong to external pressure.”