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Amid a unambiguous signal to the United States, Leader Vladimir Putin has told PM Narendra Modi that Russia remains committed to provide “continuous” shipments of energy resources to India. These remarks came during a summit where both heads of state met in Delhi and affirmed their relationship were “immune to outside influence.”

A Statement Aimed at the Western Countries

The statement, delivered Friday, appeared to be a pointed rebuke at the United States and its allies, that have sought to urge New Delhi into curtailing its historical links with Moscow. This comes follows earlier American measures, including the imposition of tariffs against Indian goods over its buying of Russian oil.

“Russia is a dependable source of energy resources and all necessary for the growth of India’s energy sector,” Putin remarked. “Moscow stands willing to continue securing the steady supply of resources for the rapidly growing Indian economy.”

Prime Minister Modi, while not mentioning oil directly, supported the focus by noting that “energy security has been a key and vital pillar of the Indo-Russian alliance.”

Challenging US Interference

Before the meeting, during a TV appearance, Putin had questioned Washington's stance regarding India's energy purchases. He argued, “Should America can claim the privilege to buy our uranium, how can you deny India claim the same privilege?”

This trip represented his maiden visit to India since the start of the situation in Ukraine, and the two nations made a clear show to demonstrate that the bond between the two leaders remained intact.

A Personal Welcome

In a notable step, Prime Minister Modi welcomed directly Putin right off the plane. Both leaders exchanged a hearty embrace like longtime companions before having a private dinner together.

He later described India's partnership with Russia as “a guiding star” and noted it was “built on reciprocal esteem and deep trust.”

Expanding Defence and Economic Cooperation

The meeting resulted in several key agreements regarding military and economic cooperation. A cornerstone agreement was the signing of an economic cooperation programme extending until 2030, which aims to increase twofold bilateral trade to $100bn each year by the 2030 deadline.

Furthermore agreed to reshape their strategic cooperation. Although Russia continues to be India's biggest supplier of defence equipment, the volume has reduced in recent years as India works to diversify its procurement.

The joint statement stressed plans for the joint production of cutting-edge military systems, though explicit details of purchases such as the Su-57 fighter jet were omitted.

Overall, Russia and India restated that in the “present intricate, strained, and volatile global landscape, Russian-Indian ties stay resilient to foreign influence.”