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During a unambiguous signal to Western nations, Leader Vladimir Putin has told Prime Minister Narendra Modi that Russia remains committed to guarantee “uninterrupted” deliveries of crude oil to India. The announcement came as the two leaders met in New Delhi and declared their relationship were “immune to external pressure.”

A Signal For the West

The statement, issued after the annual summit, seemed to be a direct challenge at Washington, that have repeatedly attempted to urge New Delhi into scaling back its historical relations with Moscow. The backdrop comes after recent US actions, including additional import duties against Indian goods over its acquisition of discounted Russian crude.

“Moscow remains a trustworthy source of oil and gas and everything needed for the growth of India’s industry,” Putin remarked. “Moscow stands willing to continue ensuring the steady delivery of fuel for the fast-expanding Indian economy.”

Modi, while not referencing crude directly, reinforced the focus by stating that “a stable energy base has been a strong and vital foundation of the Indo-Russian cooperation.”

Questioning Washington's Stance

Before the summit, via a TV appearance, Putin had questioned American pressure over India's dealings with Russia. Putin stated, “When Washington can claim the privilege to buy our nuclear fuel, how can you deny India have the equivalent access?”

This trip was his maiden journey to India following the start of the situation in Ukraine, and both sides engaged in a deliberate effort to project that the bond between the heads of state remained intact.

An Unusual Reception

Employing an notable move, the Indian PM met Putin as he disembarked. They exchanged a hearty embrace like close allies before enjoying a private dinner the night before the summit.

He later described India's relationship with Russia as “a guiding star” and noted it was “built on mutual respect and profound confidence.”

Strengthening Defence and Economic Partnerships

Friday's talks produced a number of key agreements across military and financial collaboration. A cornerstone agreement was the finalization of an joint economic plan extending until 2030, which aims to increase twofold mutual trade to one hundred billion dollars per year by the target year.

Furthermore pledged to reshape their military partnership. Even as Russia remains India's biggest exporter of arms, its share has diminished in recent years as India aims to widen its sources.

Their communique stressed cooperation in the joint production of sophisticated defence platforms, although direct mention of systems like the Su-57 fighter jet were not made.

Ultimately, Russia and India affirmed that in the “ongoing challenging, strained, and uncertain international environment, Russian-Indian ties remain durable to outside forces.”