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In a unambiguous signal to the West, President Vladimir Putin has told Prime Minister Narendra Modi that Russia is prepared to maintain “uninterrupted” deliveries of energy resources to India. This declaration came as the two leaders met in New Delhi and asserted their relationship were “immune to external pressure.”

A Statement For the West

The statement, delivered Friday, was widely seen to be a pointed rebuke at Washington, who have tried to compel New Delhi into curtailing its close relations with Moscow. The backdrop follows previous American measures, such as the imposition of import duties targeting New Delhi over its buying of Russian oil.

“Our nation is a dependable supplier of oil and gas and everything necessary for the development of India’s energy sector,” he remarked. “We are ready to keep securing the uninterrupted supply of energy for the booming Indian economy.”

Prime Minister Modi, without naming energy specifically, echoed the focus by stating that “a stable energy base has been a key and vital foundation of the India-Russia partnership.”

Questioning US Interference

Prior to the meeting, during a TV appearance, Putin had criticized American pressure on India's energy purchases. He argued, “When Washington has the right to buy our nuclear fuel, how can you deny India claim the same privilege?”

This trip was his first visit to India following the start of the situation in Ukraine, and Moscow and Delhi engaged in a deliberate attempt to demonstrate that the friendship between the men was undisturbed.

A Warm Greeting

Employing an rare move, the Indian PM welcomed directly Putin right off the plane. Both leaders exchanged a hearty embrace akin to longtime companions before having a private dinner the night before the summit.

He in his statement called India's alliance with Russia as “a guiding star” and added it was “founded on shared respect and deep trust.”

Reaffirming Defence and Economic Ties

Friday's talks yielded several important deals in the fields of defence and trade relations. A major outcome was the finalization of an economic cooperation programme that runs to 2030, which sets a goal to boost commerce to a hundred billion USD each year by the end of the decade.

Additionally pledged to reshape their defence ties. While Russia continues to be India's biggest exporter of arms, the volume has declined lately as India has sought broaden its sources.

The joint statement stressed cooperation in the co-development of cutting-edge weapons platforms, even if explicit reference of deals for the Su-57 fighter jet were left out.

Ultimately, Russia and India restated that during the “present intricate, strained, and unpredictable geopolitical situation, their relationship stay durable to foreign influence.”