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During a unambiguous message to Western nations, President Vladimir Putin stated to PM Narendra Modi that Russia is prepared to maintain “unbroken” shipments of oil to India. These remarks came when Putin and Modi met in Delhi and affirmed their bilateral ties were “immune to foreign coercion.”

A Statement Directed at the West

Putin's comments, delivered Friday, was widely seen to be a pointed rebuke at the United States and its allies, which have sought to urge New Delhi into reducing its close ties with Moscow. The backdrop comes after previous US actions, including the introduction of tariffs on India due to its acquisition of discounted Russian crude.

“Our nation is a reliable supplier of energy resources and all necessary for the growth of India’s industry,” Putin remarked. “We are ready to continue guaranteeing the uninterrupted supply of energy for the rapidly growing Indian economy.”

The Indian leader, without naming energy explicitly, echoed the sentiment by noting that “a stable energy base has been a key and vital cornerstone of the bilateral cooperation.”

Defying Washington's Stance

Prior to the summit, during a TV appearance, Putin had challenged US interference over India's oil imports. He argued, “Should America is entitled to buy our nuclear fuel, why shouldn’t India claim the same privilege?”

Putin's arrival was his first visit to India after the beginning of the conflict in Ukraine, and the two nations engaged in a clear attempt to project that the personal rapport between the heads of state remained intact.

An Unusual Welcome

Employing an notable step, the Indian PM met Putin right off the plane. They shared a warm hug akin to old friends before holding a one-on-one meal on Thursday evening.

Modi later described India's partnership with Russia as “a guiding star” and added it was “founded on shared respect and profound confidence.”

Expanding Strategic Ties

The bilateral summit produced several important deals regarding military and financial collaboration. One significant result was the finalization of an economic cooperation programme extending until 2030, which aims to increase twofold mutual trade to a hundred billion USD annually by the end of the decade.

Additionally vowed to reshape their defence ties. While Russia continues to be India's largest source of arms, its share has declined in recent years as India has sought diversify its supply base.

Their communique stressed an agreement on the joint production of sophisticated defence platforms, even if specific reference of deals for the fifth-generation aircraft were left out.

Overall, Russia and India restated that in the “ongoing challenging, tense, and volatile geopolitical situation, the Indo-Russian partnership remain durable to outside forces.”