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Amid a unambiguous message to the United States, Leader Vladimir Putin informed PM Narendra Modi that Russia remains committed to guarantee “unbroken” supplies of energy resources to India. The announcement came during a summit where both heads of state met in the Indian capital and asserted their partnership were “resilient to foreign coercion.”

A Message For the Western Countries

The statement, delivered Friday, appeared to be a direct challenge at Washington, that have sought to pressure New Delhi into curtailing its historical links with Moscow. The backdrop is in response to recent Washington's moves, such as the introduction of trade penalties targeting New Delhi due to its buying of Moscow's energy exports.

“Moscow remains a dependable source of oil and gas and anything required for the growth of India’s energy sector,” he remarked. “Russia is prepared to continue ensuring the uninterrupted delivery of energy for the booming Indian economy.”

Prime Minister Modi, though he did not naming energy specifically, reinforced the theme by stating that “a stable energy base has been a key and important foundation of the India-Russia cooperation.”

Defying American Pressure

Before the summit, in a TV appearance, Putin had challenged Washington's stance on India's oil imports. Putin stated, “If the US is entitled to buy our uranium, why shouldn’t India have the equivalent access?”

Putin's arrival represented his maiden visit to India since the start of the situation in Ukraine, and both sides made a visible effort to demonstrate that the friendship between the two leaders remained intact.

An Unusual Greeting

In a rare step, Prime Minister Modi personally greeted Putin right off the plane. They shared a warm hug like longtime companions before having a closed-door supper on Thursday evening.

The Indian prime minister in his statement called India's relationship with Russia as “a beacon” and added it was “built on reciprocal esteem and deep trust.”

Strengthening Strategic Partnerships

The meeting yielded multiple important deals across defence and financial collaboration. A major outcome was the signing of an strategic roadmap aimed at 2030, which aims to double mutual trade to $100bn per year by the 2030 deadline.

Additionally agreed to restructure their defence ties. Even as Russia is still India's primary supplier of arms, its share has reduced over the past decade as India works to diversify its sources.

Their communique stressed cooperation in the collaborative manufacturing of advanced military systems, even if direct reference of deals for the Su-57 fighter jet were left out.

Ultimately, Russia and India reiterated that amid the “ongoing challenging, difficult, and volatile international environment, Russian-Indian ties remain resilient to external pressure.”