🔗 Share this article Russian President Vladimir Putin Pledges Steady Oil Supplies to the Indian Nation in Defiance of US Pressure During a unambiguous signal to the United States, Leader Vladimir Putin has told PM Narendra Modi that Russia is prepared to guarantee “uninterrupted” supplies of crude oil to India. This declaration came when Putin and Modi met in Delhi and affirmed their relationship were “resilient to foreign coercion.” A Statement For the United States This affirmation, delivered Friday, appeared to be a direct challenge at western countries, that have repeatedly attempted to pressure New Delhi into curtailing its historical links with Moscow. This comes comes after previous US actions, including the imposition of import duties against Indian goods due to its buying of Russian oil. “Moscow remains a reliable source of fuel and all needed for the advancement of India’s energy sector,” the Russian president stated. “Moscow stands willing to keep guaranteeing the steady delivery of energy for the rapidly growing Indian economy.” Modi, without naming energy directly, supported the sentiment by stating that “a stable energy base has been a robust and crucial foundation of the India-Russia alliance.” Challenging Washington's Stance Prior to the meeting, in a TV appearance, Putin had questioned American pressure regarding India's oil imports. The president questioned, “Should America can claim the privilege to buy our nuclear fuel, how can you deny India have the identical right?” The visit represented his maiden visit to India after the onset of the war in Ukraine, and both sides made a visible effort to display that the personal rapport between the two leaders was undisturbed. A Warm Reception In a notable step, the Indian PM met Putin upon his arrival. Both leaders exchanged a hearty embrace akin to longtime companions before enjoying a one-on-one meal on Thursday evening. Modi in his statement called India's partnership with Russia as “a guiding star” and added it was “built on reciprocal esteem and profound confidence.” Strengthening Strategic Ties The meeting yielded multiple important deals regarding defence and economic cooperation. A cornerstone agreement was the signing of an strategic roadmap extending until 2030, which targets to boost mutual trade to $100bn annually by the end of the decade. Furthermore vowed to restructure their military partnership. Although Russia is still India's largest exporter of weapons, this role has reduced over the past decade as India has sought widen its sources. The official release stressed cooperation in the collaborative manufacturing of cutting-edge weapons platforms, even if specific details of systems like the fifth-generation aircraft were omitted. Overall, Moscow and Delhi restated that amid the “present intricate, strained, and uncertain international environment, Russian-Indian ties remain durable to external pressure.”