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Amid a defiant statement to the United States, Leader Vladimir Putin informed PM Narendra Modi that Russia stands ready to maintain “continuous” supplies of crude oil to India. These remarks came during a summit where both heads of state met in New Delhi and declared their relationship were “resistant to external pressure.”

A Statement Directed at the Western Countries

The statement, issued after the annual summit, appeared to be a direct challenge at the United States and its allies, that have tried to urge New Delhi into scaling back its historical relations with Moscow. The context follows earlier American measures, such as the imposition of trade penalties on India because of its buying of discounted Russian crude.

“Our nation is a trustworthy supplier of oil and gas and everything required for the advancement of India’s economy,” he remarked. “We are ready to persist in guaranteeing the uninterrupted delivery of energy for the rapidly growing Indian economy.”

The Indian leader, though he did not referencing crude explicitly, echoed the theme by stating that “secure fuel supplies has been a key and vital cornerstone of the Indo-Russian alliance.”

Defying Washington's Stance

Before the meeting, during a media interview, Putin had challenged American pressure over India's dealings with Russia. He argued, “Should America is entitled to buy our atomic materials, then why can't India claim the identical right?”

Putin's arrival represented his maiden visit to India after the start of the situation in Ukraine, and Moscow and Delhi engaged in a clear attempt to demonstrate that the bond between the two leaders remained intact.

A Warm Welcome

Employing an rare move, Modi met Putin upon his arrival. The two embraced warmly like old friends before holding a one-on-one meal the night before the summit.

Modi referred to India's relationship with Russia as “a lodestar” and noted it was “founded on shared respect and deep trust.”

Reaffirming Bilateral Ties

The bilateral summit resulted in multiple significant pacts in the fields of defence and trade relations. One significant result was the signing of an strategic roadmap aimed at 2030, which sets a goal to double commerce to $100bn annually by the 2030 deadline.

The leaders also agreed to recalibrate their military partnership. Even as Russia remains India's biggest source of arms, the volume has reduced in recent years as India works to broaden its procurement.

The joint statement emphasized plans for the joint production of sophisticated weapons platforms, although explicit reference of purchases such as the Su-57 fighter jet were not made.

Ultimately, Moscow and Delhi affirmed that amid the “current complex, tense, and unpredictable geopolitical situation, their relationship stay resilient to foreign influence.”