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Amid a clear message to Western nations, Leader Vladimir Putin has told Prime Minister Narendra Modi that Russia is prepared to guarantee “unbroken” shipments of oil to India. The announcement came when Putin and Modi met in the Indian capital and declared their partnership were “immune to external pressure.”

A Signal Aimed at the Western Countries

Putin's comments, issued after the annual summit, appeared to be targeted at Washington, that have repeatedly attempted to pressure New Delhi into curtailing its close ties with Moscow. The backdrop follows recent US actions, notably additional import duties against Indian goods over its purchase of Moscow's energy exports.

“Moscow remains a reliable exporter of fuel and anything required for the development of India’s economy,” Putin stated. “We are ready to persist in securing the steady flow of fuel for the rapidly growing Indian economy.”

Modi, though he did not referencing crude specifically, reinforced the focus by stating that “a stable energy base has been a key and vital cornerstone of the India-Russia alliance.”

Defying Washington's Stance

Prior to the meeting, in a TV appearance, Putin had questioned American pressure on India's energy purchases. The president questioned, “If the US can claim the privilege to buy our uranium, how can you deny India have the equivalent access?”

Putin's arrival marked his initial visit to India following the beginning of the war in Ukraine, and both sides engaged in a clear attempt to demonstrate that the bond between the heads of state remained intact.

An Unusual Greeting

Taking an notable move, Modi met Putin upon his arrival. They embraced warmly like close allies before holding a one-on-one meal on Thursday evening.

The Indian prime minister in his statement called India's relationship with Russia as “a guiding star” and added it was “founded on shared respect and strong faith.”

Reaffirming Defence and Economic Partnerships

The meeting yielded multiple significant pacts in the fields of military and financial collaboration. A major outcome was the finalization of an strategic roadmap that runs to 2030, which targets to increase twofold commerce to one hundred billion dollars each year by the 2030 deadline.

Additionally pledged to restructure their military partnership. Although Russia continues to be India's biggest exporter of defence equipment, this role has diminished over the past decade as India has sought widen its sources.

Their communique emphasized cooperation in the joint production of sophisticated weapons platforms, even if explicit details of deals for the Su-57 fighter jet were not made.

In conclusion, Russia and India affirmed that amid the “current complex, difficult, and uncertain international environment, their relationship continue to be resilient to outside forces.”