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During a defiant signal to the West, President Vladimir Putin informed PM Narendra Modi that Russia stands ready to maintain “unbroken” deliveries of oil to India. This declaration came as the two leaders met in the Indian capital and asserted their partnership were “immune to outside influence.”

A Message For the United States

The statement, issued after the annual summit, was widely seen to be targeted at the United States and its allies, which have sought to pressure New Delhi into scaling back its longstanding ties with Moscow. The context follows earlier US actions, such as additional import duties against Indian goods due to its purchase of Russian oil.

“Russia is a reliable exporter of fuel and everything needed for the growth of India’s economy,” the Russian president stated. “Russia is prepared to persist in securing the steady flow of energy for the fast-expanding Indian economy.”

Modi, while not referencing crude directly, supported the theme by saying that “energy security has been a strong and important cornerstone of the bilateral partnership.”

Defying American Pressure

Before the summit, during a television interview, Putin had criticized American pressure regarding India's oil imports. The president questioned, “Should America has the right to buy our uranium, how can you deny India have the identical right?”

Putin's arrival was his maiden visit to India after the onset of the conflict in Ukraine, and Moscow and Delhi engaged in a visible effort to demonstrate that the personal rapport between the heads of state was undisturbed.

An Unusual Reception

Employing an notable gesture, Prime Minister Modi met Putin upon his arrival. The two shared a warm hug akin to longtime companions before having a private dinner the night before the summit.

He referred to India's partnership with Russia as “a beacon” and said it was “based on reciprocal esteem and strong faith.”

Expanding Bilateral Partnerships

The meeting produced a number of significant pacts across military and trade relations. A cornerstone agreement was the completion of an joint economic plan that runs to 2030, which aims to increase twofold bilateral trade to a hundred billion USD each year by the 2030 deadline.

The leaders also vowed to reshape their defence ties. Even as Russia continues to be India's largest supplier of weapons, this role has diminished in recent years as India has sought broaden its sources.

The joint statement highlighted cooperation in the co-development of sophisticated military systems, although specific details of deals for the Sukhoi Su-57 were left out.

Overall, Moscow and Delhi reiterated that in the “current complex, strained, and volatile international environment, Russian-Indian ties continue to be durable to external pressure.”