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Amid a clear message to Western nations, Leader Vladimir Putin informed PM Narendra Modi that Russia remains committed to guarantee “unbroken” shipments of energy resources to India. This declaration came when Putin and Modi met in the Indian capital and affirmed their bilateral ties were “resilient to outside influence.”

A Message Directed at the Western Countries

Putin's comments, issued after the annual summit, was widely seen to be targeted at western countries, that have tried to urge New Delhi into scaling back its historical relations with Moscow. The context is in response to recent American measures, such as additional import duties targeting New Delhi due to its purchase of Moscow's energy exports.

“Russia is a reliable exporter of oil and gas and anything required for the growth of India’s industry,” he stated. “Russia is prepared to continue guaranteeing the steady supply of fuel for the rapidly growing Indian economy.”

Prime Minister Modi, while not mentioning oil specifically, supported the focus by saying that “a stable energy base has been a key and crucial pillar of the bilateral partnership.”

Defying Washington's Stance

Before the summit, via a television interview, Putin had challenged US interference regarding India's energy purchases. The president questioned, “If the US is entitled to buy our uranium, why shouldn’t India claim the identical right?”

The visit marked his initial visit to India after the beginning of the conflict in Ukraine, and Moscow and Delhi made a visible show to project that the personal rapport between the heads of state was undisturbed.

A Warm Greeting

Employing an notable move, Prime Minister Modi welcomed directly Putin as he disembarked. Both leaders exchanged a hearty embrace akin to old friends before holding a one-on-one meal on Thursday evening.

He later described India's relationship with Russia as “a beacon” and added it was “based on mutual respect and strong faith.”

Reaffirming Bilateral Cooperation

Friday's talks resulted in multiple important deals across military and trade relations. One significant result was the finalization of an strategic roadmap that runs to 2030, which targets to double commerce to a hundred billion USD annually by the end of the decade.

Additionally agreed to reshape their defence ties. Even as Russia is still India's primary source of defence equipment, its share has reduced over the past decade as India aims to widen its sources.

The joint statement emphasized plans for the joint production of cutting-edge defence platforms, though explicit details of purchases such as the fifth-generation aircraft were left out.

Overall, both nations reiterated that during the “present intricate, difficult, and unpredictable global landscape, Russian-Indian ties continue to be strong to external pressure.”