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Amid a unambiguous message to the United States, President Vladimir Putin has told PM Narendra Modi that Russia remains committed to provide “uninterrupted” supplies of oil to India. This declaration came as the two leaders met in New Delhi and declared their bilateral ties were “resistant to outside influence.”

A Signal Directed at the West

The statement, made on Friday, was widely seen to be a pointed rebuke at the United States and its allies, who have sought to pressure New Delhi into reducing its close ties with Moscow. This comes follows earlier American measures, including the introduction of trade penalties against Indian goods over its acquisition of discounted Russian crude.

“Our nation is a dependable exporter of energy resources and all necessary for the advancement of India’s economy,” the Russian president said. “Russia is prepared to continue ensuring the consistent delivery of energy for the rapidly growing Indian economy.”

Modi, without referencing crude specifically, echoed the theme by stating that “secure fuel supplies has been a strong and crucial foundation of the India-Russia partnership.”

Questioning American Pressure

Before the summit, during a television interview, Putin had questioned Washington's stance over India's dealings with Russia. He argued, “Should America can claim the privilege to buy our atomic materials, why shouldn’t India enjoy the equivalent access?”

Putin's arrival was his maiden trip to India following the beginning of the situation in Ukraine, and both sides undertook a visible show to display that the friendship between the two leaders was undisturbed.

A Warm Reception

Employing an notable step, Prime Minister Modi welcomed directly Putin upon his arrival. The two embraced warmly as longtime companions before holding a closed-door supper together.

The Indian prime minister referred to India's partnership with Russia as “a lodestar” and added it was “founded on shared respect and profound confidence.”

Expanding Defence and Economic Ties

Friday's talks resulted in multiple key agreements in the fields of military and economic cooperation. One significant result was the signing of an joint economic plan that runs to 2030, which sets a goal to increase twofold bilateral trade to $100bn each year by the 2030 deadline.

Additionally agreed to restructure their strategic cooperation. Even as Russia remains India's largest exporter of defence equipment, this role has reduced lately as India works to broaden its sources.

The joint statement emphasized an agreement on the joint production of advanced defence platforms, even if direct mention of systems like the Sukhoi Su-57 were omitted.

Ultimately, both nations affirmed that amid the “current complex, difficult, and uncertain international environment, Russian-Indian ties continue to be durable to outside forces.”