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In a defiant signal to Western nations, Leader Vladimir Putin has told Prime Minister Narendra Modi that Russia remains committed to guarantee “uninterrupted” deliveries of energy resources to India. These remarks came as the two leaders met in Delhi and declared their relationship were “resistant to external pressure.”

A Signal For the Western Countries

This affirmation, delivered Friday, was widely seen to be a pointed rebuke at Washington, who have repeatedly attempted to compel New Delhi into scaling back its close relations with Moscow. The backdrop comes after earlier Washington's moves, including additional trade penalties on India because of its acquisition of discounted Russian crude.

“Moscow remains a dependable source of fuel and everything required for the growth of India’s industry,” Putin said. “Russia is prepared to persist in guaranteeing the uninterrupted supply of fuel for the rapidly growing Indian economy.”

The Indian leader, without referencing crude explicitly, supported the sentiment by saying that “secure fuel supplies has been a key and vital pillar of the bilateral alliance.”

Defying Washington's Stance

Prior to the summit, via a television interview, Putin had criticized Washington's stance over India's dealings with Russia. Putin stated, “If the US has the right to buy our uranium, then why can't India have the identical right?”

Putin's arrival was his initial trip to India after the onset of the situation in Ukraine, and Moscow and Delhi undertook a deliberate attempt to display that the friendship between the two leaders remained intact.

An Unusual Greeting

Taking an rare gesture, Modi met Putin as he disembarked. They shared a warm hug like old friends before holding a closed-door supper together.

He later described India's alliance with Russia as “a beacon” and noted it was “founded on shared respect and profound confidence.”

Expanding Strategic Partnerships

The bilateral summit produced multiple important deals across military and financial collaboration. A cornerstone agreement was the completion of an joint economic plan extending until 2030, which aims to double mutual trade to a hundred billion USD each year by the 2030 deadline.

Additionally agreed to recalibrate their military partnership. Although Russia continues to be India's biggest supplier of arms, its share has reduced lately as India aims to widen its sources.

The joint statement highlighted plans for the joint production of cutting-edge weapons platforms, though direct mention of deals for the Sukhoi Su-57 were omitted.

Ultimately, Russia and India restated that in the “ongoing challenging, difficult, and unpredictable geopolitical situation, Russian-Indian ties stay durable to external pressure.”