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In a defiant statement to the West, Leader Vladimir Putin informed PM Narendra Modi that Russia is prepared to maintain “uninterrupted” supplies of crude oil to India. These remarks came as the two leaders met in the Indian capital and declared their bilateral ties were “immune to external pressure.”

A Message Aimed at the Western Countries

The statement, issued after the annual summit, seemed to be a direct challenge at Washington, who have tried to urge New Delhi into curtailing its close links with Moscow. The backdrop is in response to previous American measures, including the imposition of import duties against Indian goods over its purchase of discounted Russian crude.

“Russia is a dependable exporter of oil and gas and anything needed for the growth of India’s economy,” he remarked. “We are ready to keep ensuring the uninterrupted flow of resources for the rapidly growing Indian economy.”

The Indian leader, though he did not mentioning oil specifically, supported the focus by stating that “secure fuel supplies has been a robust and crucial foundation of the India-Russia cooperation.”

Challenging US Interference

Prior to the summit, via a TV appearance, Putin had criticized US interference regarding India's oil imports. He argued, “When Washington has the right to buy our nuclear fuel, why shouldn’t India claim the same privilege?”

This trip marked his initial journey to India after the onset of the situation in Ukraine, and the two nations engaged in a clear show to demonstrate that the personal rapport between the men persisted strongly.

An Unusual Greeting

Taking an rare move, the Indian PM welcomed directly Putin upon his arrival. The two embraced warmly like close allies before enjoying a closed-door supper on Thursday evening.

He in his statement called India's partnership with Russia as “a beacon” and said it was “built on reciprocal esteem and profound confidence.”

Reaffirming Strategic Ties

Friday's talks resulted in multiple important deals across defence and trade relations. A cornerstone agreement was the signing of an economic cooperation programme aimed at 2030, which aims to increase twofold bilateral trade to $100bn per year by the end of the decade.

Furthermore agreed to reshape their military partnership. While Russia remains India's primary exporter of arms, its share has reduced over the past decade as India has sought widen its supply base.

The joint statement highlighted cooperation in the collaborative manufacturing of advanced defence platforms, though direct mention of systems like the Su-57 fighter jet were left out.

Overall, Russia and India affirmed that amid the “ongoing challenging, tense, and unpredictable global landscape, the Indo-Russian partnership stay durable to external pressure.”