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During a unambiguous statement to Western nations, President Vladimir Putin informed PM Narendra Modi that Russia is prepared to guarantee “uninterrupted” shipments of energy resources to India. The announcement came as the two leaders met in Delhi and declared their partnership were “resistant to foreign coercion.”

A Message Aimed at the United States

Putin's comments, issued after the annual summit, appeared to be a direct challenge at Washington, who have tried to urge New Delhi into curtailing its longstanding links with Moscow. The backdrop comes after earlier American measures, including the imposition of trade penalties against Indian goods due to its buying of Moscow's energy exports.

“Moscow remains a trustworthy source of oil and gas and anything needed for the growth of India’s economy,” he said. “Russia is prepared to keep ensuring the uninterrupted supply of resources for the rapidly growing Indian economy.”

Modi, though he did not naming energy explicitly, echoed the sentiment by noting that “energy security has been a strong and important pillar of the bilateral cooperation.”

Defying US Interference

Prior to the talks, via a TV appearance, Putin had questioned American pressure regarding India's dealings with Russia. The president questioned, “If the US has the right to buy our uranium, then why can't India enjoy the identical right?”

This trip represented his first visit to India after the start of the situation in Ukraine, and Moscow and Delhi made a visible effort to demonstrate that the personal rapport between the heads of state remained intact.

An Unusual Welcome

Employing an notable step, Modi met Putin upon his arrival. Both leaders shared a warm hug akin to old friends before enjoying a private dinner together.

Modi later described India's relationship with Russia as “a lodestar” and said it was “founded on mutual respect and strong faith.”

Strengthening Bilateral Ties

Friday's talks resulted in a number of important deals across defence and economic cooperation. A cornerstone agreement was the finalization of an economic cooperation programme extending until 2030, which aims to double commerce to $100bn per year by the target year.

The leaders also vowed to restructure their strategic cooperation. Although Russia remains India's largest supplier of defence equipment, this role has reduced in recent years as India works to diversify its procurement.

The official release emphasized plans for the co-development of cutting-edge defence platforms, even if specific mention of purchases such as the fifth-generation aircraft were not made.

Overall, Moscow and Delhi affirmed that amid the “ongoing challenging, strained, and uncertain geopolitical situation, Russian-Indian ties continue to be resilient to foreign influence.”