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Amid a unambiguous statement to the United States, President Vladimir Putin stated to PM Narendra Modi that Russia stands ready to provide “unbroken” supplies of energy resources to India. The announcement came when Putin and Modi met in the Indian capital and affirmed their partnership were “resistant to external pressure.”

A Statement For the Western Countries

The statement, issued after the annual summit, was widely seen to be targeted at Washington, which have sought to urge New Delhi into curtailing its longstanding ties with Moscow. The backdrop follows recent Washington's moves, including the imposition of import duties against Indian goods because of its buying of Moscow's energy exports.

“Our nation is a trustworthy supplier of oil and gas and all required for the development of India’s energy sector,” Putin stated. “Russia is prepared to keep guaranteeing the uninterrupted supply of resources for the booming Indian economy.”

The Indian leader, though he did not mentioning oil explicitly, echoed the sentiment by noting that “a stable energy base has been a key and important cornerstone of the India-Russia alliance.”

Defying Washington's Stance

Before the summit, in a media interview, Putin had challenged American pressure on India's energy purchases. Putin stated, “If the US can claim the privilege to buy our uranium, then why can't India have the equivalent access?”

Putin's arrival represented his first journey to India following the start of the war in Ukraine, and both sides undertook a clear show to demonstrate that the friendship between the men was undisturbed.

An Unusual Reception

Employing an unusual gesture, the Indian PM met Putin upon his arrival. The two embraced warmly as old friends before having a private dinner the night before the summit.

Modi later described India's relationship with Russia as “a beacon” and noted it was “founded on reciprocal esteem and deep trust.”

Expanding Bilateral Ties

The bilateral summit yielded several key agreements across defence and financial collaboration. A cornerstone agreement was the signing of an strategic roadmap that runs to 2030, which sets a goal to boost commerce to $100bn each year by the end of the decade.

Furthermore vowed to restructure their defence ties. While Russia continues to be India's largest source of arms, its share has reduced in recent years as India works to widen its procurement.

The official release highlighted plans for the co-development of cutting-edge military systems, even if specific mention of purchases such as the Su-57 fighter jet were left out.

In conclusion, Russia and India reiterated that in the “current complex, strained, and unpredictable geopolitical situation, their relationship continue to be resilient to foreign influence.”