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Amid a defiant statement to the West, President Vladimir Putin has told PM Narendra Modi that Russia stands ready to provide “uninterrupted” deliveries of oil to India. The announcement came as the two leaders met in New Delhi and declared their partnership were “immune to outside influence.”

A Signal For the Western Countries

Putin's comments, delivered Friday, was widely seen to be targeted at western countries, which have sought to compel New Delhi into curtailing its longstanding relations with Moscow. This comes is in response to previous US actions, 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 energy resources and everything necessary for the growth of India’s economy,” he said. “Russia is prepared to persist in guaranteeing the uninterrupted delivery of fuel for the booming Indian economy.”

Modi, without referencing crude explicitly, reinforced the focus by noting that “a stable energy base has been a strong and important foundation of the bilateral cooperation.”

Challenging Washington's Stance

Prior to the summit, via a media interview, Putin had challenged Washington's stance over India's oil imports. Putin stated, “Should America is entitled to buy our uranium, why shouldn’t India enjoy the same privilege?”

Putin's arrival represented his initial trip to India after the onset of the situation in Ukraine, and the two nations engaged in a clear effort to demonstrate that the personal rapport between the heads of state was undisturbed.

A Warm Greeting

Taking an notable step, Prime Minister Modi personally greeted Putin right off the plane. Both leaders shared a warm hug as old friends before enjoying a private dinner on Thursday evening.

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

Reaffirming Strategic Partnerships

The meeting produced a number of important deals regarding defence and financial collaboration. A cornerstone agreement was the signing of an economic cooperation programme aimed at 2030, which targets to double mutual trade to a hundred billion USD per year by the end of the decade.

Furthermore pledged to recalibrate their defence ties. Even as Russia remains India's biggest source of arms, this role has reduced in recent years as India works to diversify its supply base.

The joint statement highlighted an agreement on the collaborative manufacturing of cutting-edge military systems, although direct details of purchases such as the Sukhoi Su-57 were omitted.

Overall, both nations reiterated that in the “present intricate, difficult, and volatile geopolitical situation, their relationship continue to be durable to outside forces.”