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In a clear signal to Western nations, President Vladimir Putin has told Prime Minister Narendra Modi that Russia remains committed to provide “unbroken” supplies of crude oil to India. This declaration came during a summit where both heads of state met in the Indian capital and affirmed their bilateral ties were “resistant to external pressure.”

A Signal Aimed at the West

Putin's comments, made on Friday, seemed to be a direct challenge at Washington, who have tried to pressure New Delhi into scaling back its longstanding relations with Moscow. This comes is in response to earlier US actions, including the imposition of trade penalties targeting New Delhi due to its buying of discounted Russian crude.

“Moscow remains a reliable source of oil and gas and all required for the advancement of India’s energy sector,” Putin stated. “We are ready to continue securing the uninterrupted flow of resources for the booming Indian economy.”

Prime Minister Modi, without referencing crude directly, reinforced the focus by stating that “a stable energy base has been a robust and important cornerstone of the India-Russia alliance.”

Defying Washington's Stance

Prior to the talks, during a TV appearance, Putin had questioned US interference on India's oil imports. The president questioned, “If the US can claim the privilege to buy our uranium, why shouldn’t India enjoy the same privilege?”

This trip marked his initial visit to India following the beginning of the war in Ukraine, and the two nations undertook a clear show to demonstrate that the friendship between the two leaders persisted strongly.

A Warm Welcome

In a rare gesture, Prime Minister Modi welcomed directly Putin upon his arrival. They shared a warm hug akin to close allies before enjoying a private dinner on Thursday evening.

He referred to India's alliance with Russia as “a guiding star” and noted it was “based on shared respect and deep trust.”

Expanding Defence and Economic Cooperation

The bilateral summit yielded several important deals across defence and financial collaboration. One significant result was the signing of an joint economic plan extending until 2030, which aims to double commerce to $100bn annually by the target year.

The leaders also pledged to recalibrate their strategic cooperation. Although Russia is still India's biggest supplier of weapons, the volume has declined in recent years as India has sought widen its procurement.

The joint statement stressed an agreement on the collaborative manufacturing of sophisticated defence platforms, though specific reference of systems like the fifth-generation aircraft were omitted.

Ultimately, both nations reiterated that in the “present intricate, strained, and unpredictable geopolitical situation, their relationship stay strong to outside forces.”