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In a clear statement to Western nations, President Vladimir Putin informed Prime Minister Narendra Modi that Russia stands ready to maintain “uninterrupted” shipments of crude oil to India. This declaration came when Putin and Modi met in Delhi and asserted their relationship were “immune to foreign coercion.”

A Statement Aimed at the West

The statement, made on Friday, appeared to be targeted at western countries, that have sought to pressure New Delhi into curtailing its longstanding relations with Moscow. The context comes after earlier American measures, including additional trade penalties against Indian goods over its purchase of discounted Russian crude.

“Our nation is a reliable supplier of fuel and all needed for the development of India’s energy sector,” Putin stated. “We are ready to continue ensuring the consistent supply of energy for the rapidly growing Indian economy.”

The Indian leader, while not referencing crude directly, reinforced the theme by stating that “a stable energy base has been a robust and crucial cornerstone of the Indo-Russian partnership.”

Defying US Interference

Prior to the meeting, in a media interview, Putin had challenged Washington's stance regarding India's energy purchases. Putin stated, “When Washington is entitled to buy our uranium, then why can't India have the same privilege?”

Putin's arrival was his maiden trip to India after the start of the war in Ukraine, and the two nations made a visible effort to demonstrate that the bond between the men persisted strongly.

A Warm Reception

In a notable move, the Indian PM welcomed directly Putin right off the plane. Both leaders shared a warm hug as longtime companions before having a closed-door supper together.

He in his statement called India's relationship with Russia as “a lodestar” and said it was “founded on mutual respect and profound confidence.”

Strengthening Defence and Economic Partnerships

The bilateral summit yielded several key agreements in the fields of defence and trade relations. A major outcome was the signing of an economic cooperation programme aimed at 2030, which targets to increase twofold mutual trade to $100bn annually by the 2030 deadline.

The leaders also pledged to reshape their defence ties. Even as Russia continues to be India's primary exporter of weapons, the volume has reduced in recent years as India aims to diversify its sources.

The joint statement highlighted cooperation in the joint production of cutting-edge defence platforms, though specific details of systems like the Su-57 fighter jet were omitted.

Ultimately, Moscow and Delhi restated that amid the “present intricate, strained, and unpredictable international environment, Russian-Indian ties continue to be resilient to foreign influence.”