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In a defiant statement to the West, Leader Vladimir Putin has told Prime Minister Narendra Modi that Russia remains committed to provide “uninterrupted” deliveries of energy resources to India. These remarks came when Putin and Modi met in Delhi and asserted their relationship were “immune to outside influence.”

A Signal Directed at the United States

Putin's comments, issued after the annual summit, was widely seen to be a direct challenge at Washington, that have repeatedly attempted to compel New Delhi into curtailing its close ties with Moscow. The backdrop is in response to recent Washington's moves, including additional trade penalties on India because of its buying of Moscow's energy exports.

“Russia is a dependable exporter of energy resources and everything necessary for the development of India’s energy sector,” he said. “Moscow stands willing to continue ensuring the consistent supply of resources for the booming Indian economy.”

Prime Minister Modi, without mentioning oil specifically, supported the sentiment by saying that “energy security has been a key and vital cornerstone of the Indo-Russian partnership.”

Questioning American Pressure

Before the summit, in a TV appearance, Putin had questioned US interference over India's oil imports. The president questioned, “If the US is entitled to buy our atomic materials, then why can't India enjoy the equivalent access?”

The visit marked his maiden trip to India following the start of the war in Ukraine, and both sides engaged in a deliberate attempt to display that the personal rapport between the two leaders remained intact.

An Unusual Welcome

Taking an notable move, Prime Minister Modi met Putin upon his arrival. The two exchanged a hearty embrace as old friends before enjoying a private dinner together.

He referred to India's relationship with Russia as “a guiding star” and added it was “based on shared respect and strong faith.”

Expanding Defence and Economic Cooperation

The bilateral summit yielded multiple key agreements across defence and economic cooperation. One significant result was the signing of an economic cooperation programme aimed at 2030, which sets a goal to double commerce to $100bn annually by the 2030 deadline.

Furthermore pledged to reshape their strategic cooperation. Even as Russia remains India's biggest source of defence equipment, this role has diminished lately as India has sought broaden its sources.

The official release emphasized cooperation in the joint production of sophisticated military systems, although direct reference of systems like the Su-57 fighter jet were omitted.

Overall, both nations restated that during the “present intricate, tense, and unpredictable international environment, their relationship remain durable to outside forces.”