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Amid a defiant statement to the West, President Vladimir Putin has told Prime Minister Narendra Modi that Russia remains committed to provide “uninterrupted” supplies of energy resources to India. This declaration came when Putin and Modi met in the Indian capital and asserted their partnership were “resistant to external pressure.”

A Statement For the United States

The statement, issued after the annual summit, appeared to be targeted at Washington, which have repeatedly attempted to urge New Delhi into curtailing its historical links with Moscow. The context comes after earlier Washington's moves, such as the imposition of trade penalties against Indian goods over its purchase of Moscow's energy exports.

“Moscow remains a reliable source of oil and gas and anything needed for the development of India’s economy,” he said. “We are ready to keep guaranteeing the steady flow of energy for the rapidly growing Indian economy.”

The Indian leader, while not mentioning oil specifically, supported the focus by noting that “a stable energy base has been a strong and vital foundation of the India-Russia alliance.”

Questioning Washington's Stance

Prior to the talks, in a TV appearance, Putin had challenged American pressure over India's oil imports. Putin stated, “If the US is entitled to buy our uranium, why shouldn’t India claim the equivalent access?”

This trip was his initial visit to India after the start of the situation in Ukraine, and the two nations made a clear show to project that the friendship between the two leaders was undisturbed.

A Personal Greeting

Employing an notable move, the Indian PM personally greeted Putin as he disembarked. The two embraced warmly like old friends before holding a private dinner together.

The Indian prime minister referred to India's relationship with Russia as “a lodestar” and noted it was “built on shared respect and strong faith.”

Reaffirming Defence and Economic Cooperation

The meeting yielded a number of important deals in the fields of defence and economic cooperation. A cornerstone agreement was the finalization of an joint economic plan extending until 2030, which targets to increase twofold mutual trade to $100bn each year by the end of the decade.

Additionally agreed to reshape their strategic cooperation. Although Russia remains India's biggest supplier of arms, this role has reduced over the past decade as India works to widen its sources.

The official release stressed plans for the collaborative manufacturing of cutting-edge military systems, though explicit mention of deals for the Sukhoi Su-57 were left out.

Overall, Moscow and Delhi restated that in the “present intricate, tense, and uncertain geopolitical situation, Russian-Indian ties continue to be strong to foreign influence.”