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Amid a unambiguous statement to Western nations, Leader Vladimir Putin has told Prime Minister Narendra Modi that Russia stands ready to provide “continuous” deliveries of oil to India. These remarks came as the two leaders met in New Delhi and affirmed their relationship were “resistant to external pressure.”

A Signal Aimed at the West

Putin's comments, made on Friday, was widely seen to be a pointed rebuke at the United States and its allies, that have sought to pressure New Delhi into reducing its close ties with Moscow. This comes follows earlier American measures, such as additional import duties on India over its purchase of discounted Russian crude.

“Our nation is a reliable supplier of oil and gas and everything needed for the growth of India’s economy,” Putin remarked. “Russia is prepared to continue securing the uninterrupted supply of resources for the fast-expanding Indian economy.”

Modi, without mentioning oil specifically, echoed the sentiment by stating that “secure fuel supplies has been a key and vital cornerstone of the Indo-Russian cooperation.”

Questioning US Interference

Prior to the summit, during a TV appearance, Putin had questioned American pressure over India's energy purchases. Putin stated, “Should America is entitled to buy our uranium, how can you deny India claim the same privilege?”

This trip marked his first visit to India after the beginning of the war in Ukraine, and both sides engaged in a deliberate show to display that the personal rapport between the heads of state was undisturbed.

A Personal Reception

In a notable step, Prime Minister Modi met Putin upon his arrival. They embraced warmly as longtime companions before enjoying a closed-door supper on Thursday evening.

Modi in his statement called India's alliance with Russia as “a guiding star” and noted it was “founded on mutual respect and strong faith.”

Reaffirming Defence and Economic Cooperation

The bilateral summit resulted in several significant pacts in the fields of military and trade relations. A cornerstone agreement was the completion of an economic cooperation programme aimed at 2030, which sets a goal to double mutual trade to one hundred billion dollars per year by the target year.

The leaders also agreed to recalibrate their strategic cooperation. Even as Russia is still India's primary source of arms, this role has diminished in recent years as India aims to diversify its supply base.

Their communique stressed an agreement on the joint production of advanced weapons platforms, although explicit details of purchases such as the fifth-generation aircraft were not made.

In conclusion, both nations restated that during the “current complex, strained, and uncertain global landscape, their relationship remain resilient to foreign influence.”