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Amid a defiant signal to the United States, Leader Vladimir Putin informed PM Narendra Modi that Russia stands ready to maintain “uninterrupted” supplies of energy resources to India. This declaration came during a summit where both heads of state met in Delhi and asserted their relationship were “resistant to foreign coercion.”

A Signal Directed at the West

This affirmation, delivered Friday, was widely seen to be a direct challenge at the United States and its allies, that have repeatedly attempted to pressure New Delhi into curtailing its longstanding relations with Moscow. This comes comes after recent American measures, such as the imposition of trade penalties targeting New Delhi because of its purchase of discounted Russian crude.

“Russia is a trustworthy supplier of oil and gas and all required for the development of India’s energy sector,” the Russian president remarked. “We are ready to continue securing the steady delivery of fuel for the fast-expanding Indian economy.”

Prime Minister Modi, while not mentioning oil directly, reinforced the sentiment by noting that “a stable energy base has been a key and crucial cornerstone of the India-Russia cooperation.”

Questioning US Interference

Prior to the talks, in a TV appearance, Putin had criticized American pressure over India's oil imports. The president questioned, “If the US can claim the privilege to buy our nuclear fuel, then why can't India have the same privilege?”

The visit marked his first visit to India since the onset of the conflict in Ukraine, and both sides undertook a visible effort to demonstrate that the bond between the two leaders was undisturbed.

A Warm Reception

Employing an unusual step, Prime Minister Modi met Putin as he disembarked. They shared a warm hug as close allies before holding a one-on-one meal together.

He referred to India's partnership with Russia as “a beacon” and added it was “founded on reciprocal esteem and deep trust.”

Reaffirming Defence and Economic Partnerships

The meeting produced several important deals regarding defence and financial collaboration. One significant result was the completion of an strategic roadmap aimed at 2030, which aims to increase twofold bilateral trade to $100bn per year by the target year.

Additionally vowed to recalibrate their strategic cooperation. Even as Russia continues to be India's biggest supplier of arms, this role has reduced over the past decade as India has sought diversify its procurement.

The official release stressed an agreement on the joint production of advanced weapons platforms, although specific mention of deals for the Sukhoi Su-57 were left out.

Overall, Russia and India affirmed that during the “present intricate, strained, and uncertain geopolitical situation, their relationship stay strong to external pressure.”