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In a clear message to Western nations, President Vladimir Putin stated to Prime Minister Narendra Modi that Russia is prepared to maintain “uninterrupted” shipments of oil to India. This declaration came when Putin and Modi met in the Indian capital and affirmed their relationship were “resistant to external pressure.”

A Statement Aimed at the United States

The statement, issued after the annual summit, was widely seen to be a pointed rebuke at Washington, who have sought to compel New Delhi into scaling back its close relations with Moscow. The backdrop comes after earlier US actions, including additional tariffs targeting New Delhi due to its acquisition of discounted Russian crude.

“Our nation is a trustworthy exporter of energy resources and all necessary for the growth of India’s economy,” he said. “Russia is prepared to continue ensuring the consistent flow of fuel for the rapidly growing Indian economy.”

Prime Minister Modi, without naming energy directly, reinforced the sentiment by noting that “secure fuel supplies has been a robust and vital cornerstone of the India-Russia cooperation.”

Defying American Pressure

Before the talks, via a television interview, Putin had challenged Washington's stance on India's dealings with Russia. Putin stated, “If the US can claim the privilege to buy our nuclear fuel, how can you deny India enjoy the identical right?”

The visit represented his first journey to India following the start of the situation in Ukraine, and the two nations undertook a deliberate effort to demonstrate that the friendship between the men persisted strongly.

A Personal Greeting

In a unusual move, Prime Minister Modi personally greeted Putin as he disembarked. Both leaders exchanged a hearty embrace akin to close allies before having a one-on-one meal on Thursday evening.

He later described India's relationship with Russia as “a beacon” and said it was “based on mutual respect and strong faith.”

Expanding Strategic Ties

The meeting yielded multiple important deals in the fields of military and trade relations. A cornerstone agreement was the finalization of an joint economic plan extending until 2030, which aims to increase twofold mutual trade to $100bn annually by the target year.

The leaders also vowed to reshape their strategic cooperation. Even as Russia continues to be India's primary exporter of defence equipment, this role has diminished in recent years as India has sought diversify its sources.

The official release emphasized cooperation in the co-development of sophisticated military systems, although specific mention of purchases such as the fifth-generation aircraft were omitted.

In conclusion, both nations affirmed that amid the “present intricate, tense, and uncertain global landscape, their relationship stay durable to external pressure.”