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During a clear statement to the West, Leader Vladimir Putin has told Prime Minister Narendra Modi that Russia remains committed to guarantee “uninterrupted” supplies of crude oil to India. The announcement came as the two leaders met in Delhi and declared their partnership were “resilient to external pressure.”

A Statement For the Western Countries

This affirmation, delivered Friday, appeared to be targeted at Washington, who have sought to urge New Delhi into curtailing its close relations with Moscow. The context comes after recent American measures, notably the introduction of import duties against Indian goods due to its acquisition of Russian oil.

“Russia is a trustworthy supplier of oil and gas and all needed for the growth of India’s economy,” Putin stated. “We are ready to persist in guaranteeing the steady supply of energy for the rapidly growing Indian economy.”

The Indian leader, though he did not naming energy specifically, reinforced the theme by noting that “secure fuel supplies has been a key and important foundation of the India-Russia cooperation.”

Challenging American Pressure

In the lead-up to the summit, via a television interview, Putin had criticized American pressure regarding India's energy purchases. The president questioned, “Should America can claim the privilege to buy our nuclear fuel, why shouldn’t India claim the equivalent access?”

The visit was his initial journey to India after the beginning of the war in Ukraine, and the two nations engaged in a visible attempt to display that the personal rapport between the heads of state remained intact.

A Warm Reception

Taking an notable gesture, the Indian PM met Putin upon his arrival. The two exchanged a hearty embrace as close allies before having a one-on-one meal the night before the summit.

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

Reaffirming Strategic Ties

Friday's talks resulted in multiple key agreements regarding defence and trade relations. A major outcome was the finalization of an joint economic plan aimed at 2030, which sets a goal to boost bilateral trade to a hundred billion USD each year by the 2030 deadline.

Additionally pledged to reshape their military partnership. Although Russia remains India's largest source of weapons, this role has declined in recent years as India aims to broaden its procurement.

The joint statement stressed cooperation in the collaborative manufacturing of advanced defence platforms, though explicit reference of purchases such as the Sukhoi Su-57 were left out.

In conclusion, both nations restated that in the “current complex, difficult, and volatile geopolitical situation, the Indo-Russian partnership remain resilient to external pressure.”