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Amid a clear message to the West, President Vladimir Putin has told PM Narendra Modi that Russia is prepared to maintain “unbroken” supplies of energy resources to India. The announcement came as the two leaders met in New Delhi and declared their partnership were “immune to outside influence.”

A Signal Directed at the United States

Putin's comments, made on Friday, seemed to be a direct challenge at the United States and its allies, that have repeatedly attempted to urge New Delhi into curtailing its close ties with Moscow. The context follows earlier US actions, notably additional trade penalties against Indian goods due to its purchase of Russian oil.

“Our nation is a reliable supplier of fuel and everything required for the advancement of India’s energy sector,” he stated. “We are ready to keep ensuring the steady supply of resources for the fast-expanding Indian economy.”

Prime Minister Modi, without mentioning oil specifically, echoed the focus by saying that “a stable energy base has been a strong and important foundation of the Indo-Russian alliance.”

Challenging US Interference

Before the summit, in a TV appearance, Putin had criticized American pressure regarding India's oil imports. He argued, “When Washington has the right to buy our uranium, why shouldn’t India enjoy the same privilege?”

This trip was his maiden journey to India after the start of the conflict in Ukraine, and Moscow and Delhi made a visible attempt to demonstrate that the friendship between the heads of state remained intact.

A Warm Reception

Taking an rare gesture, the Indian PM personally greeted Putin as he disembarked. They exchanged a hearty embrace like close allies before enjoying a private dinner the night before the summit.

Modi later described India's alliance with Russia as “a beacon” and said it was “founded on shared respect and deep trust.”

Reaffirming Strategic Cooperation

Friday's talks resulted in several key agreements regarding defence and economic cooperation. A major outcome was the completion of an strategic roadmap extending until 2030, which aims to increase twofold commerce to a hundred billion USD per year by the target year.

The leaders also pledged to reshape their defence ties. Even as Russia remains India's primary source of weapons, the volume has diminished over the past decade as India aims to diversify its supply base.

The official release stressed an agreement on the co-development of sophisticated military systems, although direct mention of deals for the Su-57 fighter jet were left out.

Overall, both nations restated that during the “ongoing challenging, strained, and volatile international environment, Russian-Indian ties continue to be resilient to external pressure.”