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During a clear signal to the West, President Vladimir Putin has told PM Narendra Modi that Russia stands ready to provide “continuous” shipments of crude oil to India. The announcement came as the two leaders met in the Indian capital and declared their partnership were “immune to external pressure.”

A Signal For the West

This affirmation, made on Friday, appeared to be a pointed rebuke at the United States and its allies, who have sought to compel New Delhi into curtailing its close links with Moscow. The context comes after earlier American measures, including the introduction of tariffs targeting New Delhi due to its acquisition of Russian oil.

“Russia is a trustworthy exporter of oil and gas and everything necessary for the growth of India’s energy sector,” the Russian president stated. “We are ready to persist in ensuring the uninterrupted supply of resources for the booming Indian economy.”

Modi, without naming energy specifically, echoed the theme by noting that “a stable energy base has been a strong and vital foundation of the Indo-Russian partnership.”

Challenging Washington's Stance

Before the talks, via a TV appearance, Putin had criticized US interference regarding India's energy purchases. He argued, “If the US is entitled to buy our atomic materials, how can you deny India enjoy the same privilege?”

Putin's arrival marked his first journey to India after the start of the conflict in Ukraine, and Moscow and Delhi engaged in a visible effort to display that the friendship between the heads of state remained intact.

A Personal Welcome

Taking an notable step, the Indian PM personally greeted Putin as he disembarked. The two shared a warm hug as longtime companions before having a one-on-one meal together.

Modi referred to India's relationship with Russia as “a beacon” and noted it was “founded on shared respect and strong faith.”

Strengthening Strategic Partnerships

The bilateral summit resulted in several key agreements in the fields of military and trade relations. One significant result was the finalization of an economic cooperation programme aimed at 2030, which sets a goal to boost commerce to one hundred billion dollars annually by the end of the decade.

The leaders also pledged to reshape their defence ties. Even as Russia is still India's primary supplier of defence equipment, this role has reduced over the past decade as India aims to diversify its supply base.

Their communique stressed cooperation in the joint production of sophisticated weapons platforms, even if explicit details of systems like the fifth-generation aircraft were omitted.

Ultimately, Russia and India affirmed that amid the “current complex, difficult, and volatile international environment, their relationship remain durable to external pressure.”