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During a unambiguous statement to the United States, President Vladimir Putin has told Prime Minister Narendra Modi that Russia remains committed to maintain “unbroken” supplies of oil to India. These remarks came as the two leaders met in Delhi and declared their relationship were “resistant to foreign coercion.”

A Message Directed at the United States

The statement, issued after the annual summit, was widely seen to be a pointed rebuke at the United States and its allies, who have tried to urge New Delhi into curtailing its longstanding links with Moscow. The backdrop comes after recent Washington's moves, such as the introduction of import duties on India due to its acquisition of Russian oil.

“Our nation is a dependable supplier of fuel and everything required for the development of India’s economy,” Putin remarked. “We are ready to persist in guaranteeing the consistent flow of resources for the fast-expanding Indian economy.”

Modi, while not referencing crude specifically, echoed the theme by stating that “a stable energy base has been a key and important foundation of the bilateral partnership.”

Defying American Pressure

Prior to the talks, via a television interview, Putin had criticized Washington's stance on India's dealings with Russia. He argued, “Should America can claim the privilege to buy our uranium, why shouldn’t India enjoy the equivalent access?”

Putin's arrival was his initial journey to India following the start of the conflict in Ukraine, and the two nations undertook a deliberate show to project that the personal rapport between the men remained intact.

A Personal Reception

Employing an notable step, the Indian PM welcomed directly Putin upon his arrival. The two embraced warmly akin to close allies before holding a one-on-one meal on Thursday evening.

He in his statement called India's partnership with Russia as “a guiding star” and noted it was “based on mutual respect and profound confidence.”

Reaffirming Defence and Economic Cooperation

The bilateral summit resulted in a number of significant pacts in the fields of defence and financial collaboration. A major outcome was the finalization of an joint economic plan aimed at 2030, which targets to boost bilateral trade to one hundred billion dollars per year by the target year.

The leaders also pledged to restructure their defence ties. Even as Russia remains India's biggest source of defence equipment, its share has diminished over the past decade as India works to broaden its procurement.

The official release highlighted an agreement on the co-development of cutting-edge military systems, even if explicit mention of systems like the fifth-generation aircraft were omitted.

Overall, Moscow and Delhi restated that in the “ongoing challenging, tense, and uncertain international environment, their relationship continue to be resilient to external pressure.”