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During a defiant signal to Western nations, Leader Vladimir Putin has told PM Narendra Modi that Russia is prepared to maintain “unbroken” shipments of crude oil to India. These remarks came as the two leaders met in the Indian capital and affirmed their partnership were “resilient to external pressure.”

A Signal Directed at the West

Putin's comments, delivered Friday, was widely seen to be a pointed rebuke at the United States and its allies, that have sought to urge New Delhi into curtailing its close ties with Moscow. The context follows earlier US actions, including the imposition of trade penalties on India because of its buying of discounted Russian crude.

“Russia is a dependable supplier of oil and gas and all needed for the advancement of India’s industry,” he stated. “Russia is prepared to persist in guaranteeing the uninterrupted supply of fuel for the fast-expanding Indian economy.”

Modi, while not mentioning oil specifically, reinforced the sentiment by stating that “a stable energy base has been a key and important foundation of the bilateral cooperation.”

Defying American Pressure

Prior to the talks, via a TV appearance, Putin had challenged US interference on India's energy purchases. Putin stated, “If the US has the right to buy our nuclear fuel, how can you deny India enjoy the identical right?”

The visit marked his maiden visit to India after the onset of the war in Ukraine, and the two nations made a visible attempt to demonstrate that the friendship between the men persisted strongly.

A Personal Greeting

Employing an unusual step, the Indian PM welcomed directly Putin as he disembarked. They exchanged a hearty embrace like longtime companions before holding a one-on-one meal together.

The Indian prime minister later described India's partnership with Russia as “a lodestar” and said it was “based on reciprocal esteem and profound confidence.”

Strengthening Bilateral Partnerships

The meeting yielded several significant pacts across military and trade relations. A major outcome was the signing of an joint economic plan aimed at 2030, which sets a goal to boost bilateral trade to a hundred billion USD each year by the 2030 deadline.

The leaders also vowed to recalibrate their strategic cooperation. Although Russia continues to be India's largest supplier of defence equipment, its share has declined over the past decade as India works to broaden its supply base.

The joint statement stressed an agreement on the joint production of cutting-edge weapons platforms, although specific details of systems like the fifth-generation aircraft were left out.

In conclusion, both nations reiterated that in the “ongoing challenging, difficult, and volatile international environment, Russian-Indian ties continue to be resilient to external pressure.”