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During a unambiguous statement to Western nations, Leader Vladimir Putin has told Prime Minister Narendra Modi that Russia is prepared to guarantee “continuous” supplies of crude oil to India. These remarks came during a summit where both heads of state met in Delhi and asserted their relationship were “resilient to external pressure.”

A Statement Directed at the Western Countries

Putin's comments, made on Friday, appeared to be a pointed rebuke at Washington, which have tried to urge New Delhi into curtailing its close links with Moscow. The context comes after previous Washington's moves, such as additional trade penalties against Indian goods because of its acquisition of Moscow's energy exports.

“Russia is a reliable supplier of fuel and everything required for the growth of India’s economy,” Putin stated. “Moscow stands willing to keep ensuring the steady supply of fuel for the fast-expanding Indian economy.”

Modi, though he did not referencing crude explicitly, reinforced the focus by stating that “secure fuel supplies has been a robust and vital cornerstone of the bilateral alliance.”

Defying US Interference

Prior to the meeting, via a TV appearance, Putin had questioned US interference on India's energy purchases. He argued, “When Washington has the right to buy our uranium, why shouldn’t India claim the equivalent access?”

This trip was his first visit to India after the start of the situation in Ukraine, and the two nations engaged in a clear attempt to project that the personal rapport between the two leaders was undisturbed.

A Personal Reception

Employing an rare gesture, Prime Minister Modi met Putin as he disembarked. Both leaders shared a warm hug as close allies before enjoying a private dinner together.

Modi in his statement called India's partnership with Russia as “a guiding star” and noted it was “built on mutual respect and profound confidence.”

Expanding Bilateral Ties

The meeting yielded a number of significant pacts in the fields of military and economic cooperation. A major outcome was the completion of an joint economic plan that runs to 2030, which sets a goal to increase twofold commerce to a hundred billion USD annually by the end of the decade.

The leaders also agreed to restructure their defence ties. Although Russia is still India's biggest source of defence equipment, this role has declined in recent years as India has sought widen its sources.

The joint statement stressed cooperation in the joint production of cutting-edge military systems, although specific details of deals for the Su-57 fighter jet were left out.

Overall, Russia and India affirmed that amid the “present intricate, strained, and uncertain geopolitical situation, Russian-Indian ties continue to be resilient to foreign influence.”