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Amid a defiant signal to Western nations, President Vladimir Putin has told Prime Minister Narendra Modi that Russia remains committed to maintain “unbroken” deliveries of oil to India. This declaration came during a summit where both heads of state met in Delhi and affirmed their partnership were “immune to external pressure.”

A Statement Aimed at the United States

Putin's comments, delivered Friday, seemed to be targeted at the United States and its allies, who have repeatedly attempted to compel New Delhi into scaling back its close ties with Moscow. This comes is in response to recent US actions, notably additional tariffs against Indian goods because of its purchase of Moscow's energy exports.

“Russia is a trustworthy supplier of fuel and all needed for the development of India’s energy sector,” the Russian president remarked. “Russia is prepared to keep securing the uninterrupted supply of resources for the booming Indian economy.”

The Indian leader, though he did not referencing crude specifically, reinforced the sentiment by noting that “a stable energy base has been a robust and vital cornerstone of the Indo-Russian cooperation.”

Defying Washington's Stance

Prior to the talks, in a TV appearance, Putin had questioned Washington's stance over India's dealings with Russia. The president questioned, “If the US has the right to buy our uranium, why shouldn’t India enjoy the identical right?”

Putin's arrival was his initial visit to India after the beginning of the situation in Ukraine, and Moscow and Delhi made a deliberate effort to demonstrate that the personal rapport between the heads of state was undisturbed.

An Unusual Welcome

Employing an unusual step, Prime Minister Modi personally greeted Putin as he disembarked. Both leaders embraced warmly akin to old friends before having a one-on-one meal together.

The Indian prime minister referred to India's partnership with Russia as “a beacon” and noted it was “built on reciprocal esteem and profound confidence.”

Strengthening Bilateral Cooperation

The meeting yielded multiple significant pacts across military and economic cooperation. One significant result was the completion of an strategic roadmap extending until 2030, which targets to boost mutual trade to $100bn each year by the 2030 deadline.

Additionally pledged to restructure their military partnership. While Russia continues to be India's biggest source of defence equipment, its share has declined over the past decade as India has sought diversify its procurement.

The official release highlighted an agreement on the collaborative manufacturing of advanced defence platforms, even if explicit details of deals for the Su-57 fighter jet were left out.

In conclusion, both nations restated that amid the “current complex, strained, and unpredictable geopolitical situation, the Indo-Russian partnership stay strong to foreign influence.”