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Amid a unambiguous message to Western nations, President Vladimir Putin has told PM Narendra Modi that Russia stands ready to maintain “uninterrupted” deliveries of energy resources to India. These remarks came as the two leaders met in New Delhi and declared their relationship were “resilient to foreign coercion.”

A Signal Directed at the West

Putin's comments, made on Friday, was widely seen to be a direct challenge at Washington, which have sought to compel New Delhi into reducing its historical links with Moscow. This comes comes after recent American measures, notably the introduction of import duties on India over its acquisition of discounted Russian crude.

“Russia is a trustworthy source of fuel and anything required for the growth of India’s industry,” the Russian president said. “Moscow stands willing to keep guaranteeing the uninterrupted flow of energy for the rapidly growing Indian economy.”

The Indian leader, though he did not referencing crude specifically, echoed the focus by noting that “a stable energy base has been a strong and important pillar of the bilateral alliance.”

Defying US Interference

In the lead-up to the meeting, during a media interview, Putin had challenged US interference over India's energy purchases. The president questioned, “When Washington is entitled to buy our nuclear fuel, then why can't India have the same privilege?”

Putin's arrival represented his initial trip to India after the beginning of the conflict in Ukraine, and the two nations undertook a clear attempt to demonstrate that the personal rapport between the two leaders persisted strongly.

A Personal Reception

In a unusual gesture, the Indian PM welcomed directly Putin upon his arrival. They exchanged a hearty embrace akin to old friends before holding a one-on-one meal on Thursday evening.

Modi in his statement called India's relationship with Russia as “a guiding star” and noted it was “based on mutual respect and profound confidence.”

Expanding Strategic Cooperation

The meeting produced a number of significant pacts regarding military and economic cooperation. One significant result was the finalization of an economic cooperation programme that runs to 2030, which targets to double mutual trade to a hundred billion USD each year by the end of the decade.

Additionally pledged to restructure their defence ties. While Russia remains India's largest source of weapons, this role has reduced lately as India aims to diversify its sources.

The official release emphasized an agreement on the joint production of cutting-edge military systems, even if direct mention of systems like the Su-57 fighter jet were left out.

Overall, Russia and India affirmed that amid the “present intricate, strained, and volatile international environment, the Indo-Russian partnership continue to be resilient to foreign influence.”