diff --git a/litellm-rust/Cargo.lock b/litellm-rust/Cargo.lock
index 7f2d2e6b28b..d4b32659ba1 100644
--- a/litellm-rust/Cargo.lock
+++ b/litellm-rust/Cargo.lock
@@ -2135,10 +2135,14 @@ dependencies = [
 name = "litellm-http"
 version = "0.1.0"
 dependencies = [
+ "http 1.4.2",
+ "hyper-util",
  "reqwest 0.12.28",
  "rstest",
+ "rustls 0.23.42",
  "thiserror 2.0.19",
  "tokio",
+ "webpki-roots",
 ]
 
 [[package]]
diff --git a/litellm-rust/Cargo.toml b/litellm-rust/Cargo.toml
index 02f4cc6b3ab..8634dce92d0 100644
--- a/litellm-rust/Cargo.toml
+++ b/litellm-rust/Cargo.toml
@@ -27,6 +27,8 @@ litellm-token-counter = { path = "crates/token-counter" }
 litellm-host-python = { path = "crates/host-python" }
 
 bytes = "1"
+http = "1"
+hyper-util = { version = "0.1.20", default-features = false, features = ["client-proxy"] }
 proptest = "1.7.0"
 pyo3 = "0.29.2"
 pyo3-async-runtimes = { version = "0.29.0", features = ["tokio-runtime"] }
@@ -50,6 +52,7 @@ base64 = "0.22"
 moka = { version = "0.12.16", features = ["future"] }
 strum = { version = "0.28.0", features = ["derive"] }
 url = "2.5.8"
+webpki-roots = "1"
 time = { version = "0.3.53", features = ["parsing"] }
 criterion = "0.8.2"
 fancy-regex = "0.19.2"
diff --git a/litellm-rust/crates/core/tests/ocr.rs b/litellm-rust/crates/core/tests/ocr.rs
index 2ae162d964f..a6b26bd8a27 100644
--- a/litellm-rust/crates/core/tests/ocr.rs
+++ b/litellm-rust/crates/core/tests/ocr.rs
@@ -12,7 +12,10 @@ use litellm_llms::{
         error::Error as OcrError,
         transformation::{LiteLLMOcrResponse, OCR_RESPONSE_MAX_BYTES, OcrTransportConfig},
     },
-    custom_httpx::{llm_http_handler::OcrClient, media::PublicDnsResolver},
+    custom_httpx::{
+        llm_http_handler::OcrClient,
+        media::{PublicDnsResolver, UrlPolicy},
+    },
 };
 use rstest::rstest;
 use serde_json::{Value, json};
@@ -181,7 +184,8 @@ async fn ocr_client_uses_the_injected_http_pool_configuration() {
     };
     let client = OcrClient::new(
         &HttpClientPool::new(Arc::new(PublicDnsResolver)),
-        &HttpClientConfig::resolve(&settings).unwrap(),
+        &HttpClientConfig::resolve(&settings).config,
+        UrlPolicy::default(),
         VertexAuth::default(),
     )
     .unwrap();
diff --git a/litellm-rust/crates/http/Cargo.toml b/litellm-rust/crates/http/Cargo.toml
index 48ea4e66cef..0ac09a9d155 100644
--- a/litellm-rust/crates/http/Cargo.toml
+++ b/litellm-rust/crates/http/Cargo.toml
@@ -6,8 +6,12 @@ license.workspace = true
 repository.workspace = true
 
 [dependencies]
+http.workspace = true
+hyper-util.workspace = true
 reqwest.workspace = true
+rustls.workspace = true
 thiserror.workspace = true
+webpki-roots.workspace = true
 
 [dev-dependencies]
 rstest.workspace = true
diff --git a/litellm-rust/crates/http/src/config.rs b/litellm-rust/crates/http/src/config.rs
index 24a52315f7c..ebe557788ca 100644
--- a/litellm-rust/crates/http/src/config.rs
+++ b/litellm-rust/crates/http/src/config.rs
@@ -1,12 +1,13 @@
 use std::{
     net::{IpAddr, Ipv4Addr},
-    path::{Path, PathBuf},
+    path::PathBuf,
     time::Duration,
 };
 
 use crate::{
     error::Error,
-    settings::{HttpSettings, SslVerify},
+    settings::{HttpSettings, SslVerify, TcpKeepalive},
+    tls::{self, KeyExchangeGroup, Tls12CipherSuite, Unsupported},
 };
 
 #[derive(Clone, Debug, PartialEq, Eq, Hash)]
@@ -20,27 +21,38 @@ pub enum Verify {
 pub struct HttpClientConfig {
     pub verify: Verify,
     pub client_certificate: Option<PathBuf>,
+    pub key_exchange_group: Option<KeyExchangeGroup>,
+    pub tls12_cipher_suites: Option<Vec<Tls12CipherSuite>>,
     pub force_ipv4: bool,
     pub http2: bool,
     pub user_agent: Option<String>,
     pub trust_proxy_env: bool,
     pub connect_timeout: Duration,
+    pub tcp_keepalive: Option<TcpKeepalive>,
+    pub pool_idle_timeout: Duration,
+}
+
+#[derive(Clone, Debug, PartialEq, Eq)]
+pub struct Resolution {
+    pub config: HttpClientConfig,
+    pub unsupported: Vec<Unsupported>,
 }
 
 impl HttpClientConfig {
-    pub fn resolve(settings: &HttpSettings) -> Result<Self, Error> {
-        if let Some(level) = &settings.ssl_security_level {
-            return Err(Error::Unsupported {
-                setting: "ssl_security_level",
-                reason: format!("OpenSSL cipher string {level:?} has no rustls equivalent"),
-            });
-        }
-        if let Some(curve) = &settings.ssl_ecdh_curve {
-            return Err(Error::Unsupported {
-                setting: "ssl_ecdh_curve",
-                reason: format!("key exchange group {curve:?} is fixed by the rustls provider"),
-            });
-        }
+    pub fn resolve(settings: &HttpSettings) -> Resolution {
+        let (key_exchange_group, unsupported_curve) = match settings
+            .ssl_ecdh_curve
+            .as_deref()
+            .map(KeyExchangeGroup::from_openssl_name)
+        {
+            None => (None, None),
+            Some(Ok(group)) => (Some(group), None),
+            Some(Err(unsupported)) => (None, Some(unsupported)),
+        };
+        let ciphers = settings
+            .ssl_security_level
+            .as_deref()
+            .map(tls::parse_cipher_string);
         let verify = match &settings.ssl_verify {
             Some(SslVerify::Disabled) => Verify::Disabled,
             Some(SslVerify::CaBundle(path)) => Verify::CaBundle(path.clone()),
@@ -49,62 +61,50 @@ impl HttpClientConfig {
                 .clone()
                 .map_or(Verify::BuiltInRoots, Verify::CaBundle),
         };
-        Ok(Self {
-            verify,
-            client_certificate: settings.ssl_certificate.clone(),
-            force_ipv4: settings.force_ipv4,
-            http2: settings.http2,
-            user_agent: settings.user_agent.clone(),
-            trust_proxy_env: !settings.ignore_proxy_env
-                || settings.trust_proxy_env
-                || settings.http2
-                || settings.httpx_transport,
-            connect_timeout: settings.connect_timeout,
-        })
+        let (tls12_cipher_suites, unsupported_ciphers) = ciphers
+            .map_or((None, Vec::new()), |ciphers| {
+                (ciphers.tls12_cipher_suites, ciphers.unsupported)
+            });
+        Resolution {
+            config: Self {
+                verify,
+                client_certificate: settings.ssl_certificate.clone(),
+                key_exchange_group,
+                tls12_cipher_suites,
+                force_ipv4: settings.force_ipv4,
+                http2: settings.http2,
+                user_agent: settings.user_agent.clone(),
+                trust_proxy_env: !settings.ignore_proxy_env
+                    || settings.trust_proxy_env
+                    || settings.http2
+                    || settings.httpx_transport,
+                connect_timeout: settings.connect_timeout,
+                tcp_keepalive: settings.tcp_keepalive,
+                pool_idle_timeout: settings.pool_idle_timeout,
+            },
+            unsupported: unsupported_curve
+                .into_iter()
+                .chain(unsupported_ciphers)
+                .collect(),
+        }
     }
 
     pub fn client_builder(&self) -> Result<reqwest::ClientBuilder, Error> {
-        let base = reqwest::Client::builder().connect_timeout(self.connect_timeout);
-        let with_roots = match &self.verify {
-            Verify::Disabled => base.danger_accept_invalid_certs(true),
-            Verify::BuiltInRoots => base,
-            Verify::CaBundle(path) => {
-                let pem = read(path)?;
-                let certificates =
-                    reqwest::Certificate::from_pem_bundle(&pem).map_err(|error| {
-                        Error::InvalidPem {
-                            path: path.clone(),
-                            message: error.without_url().to_string(),
-                        }
-                    })?;
-                if certificates.is_empty() {
-                    return Err(Error::InvalidPem {
-                        path: path.clone(),
-                        message: "no certificates found".into(),
-                    });
-                }
-                certificates.into_iter().fold(
-                    base.tls_built_in_root_certs(false),
-                    |builder, certificate| builder.add_root_certificate(certificate),
-                )
-            }
-        };
-        let with_identity = match &self.client_certificate {
-            None => with_roots,
-            Some(path) => {
-                let identity = reqwest::Identity::from_pem(&read(path)?).map_err(|error| {
-                    Error::InvalidPem {
-                        path: path.clone(),
-                        message: error.without_url().to_string(),
-                    }
-                })?;
-                with_roots.identity(identity)
-            }
+        let base = reqwest::Client::builder()
+            .use_preconfigured_tls(tls::client_config(self)?)
+            .connect_timeout(self.connect_timeout)
+            .pool_idle_timeout(self.pool_idle_timeout);
+        let with_keepalive = match self.tcp_keepalive {
+            None => base,
+            Some(keepalive) => base
+                .tcp_keepalive(keepalive.idle)
+                .tcp_keepalive_interval(keepalive.interval)
+                .tcp_keepalive_retries(keepalive.retries),
         };
         let with_address = if self.force_ipv4 {
-            with_identity.local_address(IpAddr::V4(Ipv4Addr::UNSPECIFIED))
+            with_keepalive.local_address(IpAddr::V4(Ipv4Addr::UNSPECIFIED))
         } else {
-            with_identity
+            with_keepalive
         };
         let with_protocol = if self.http2 {
             with_address
@@ -123,13 +123,6 @@ impl HttpClientConfig {
     }
 }
 
-fn read(path: &Path) -> Result<Vec<u8>, Error> {
-    std::fs::read(path).map_err(|error| Error::Read {
-        path: path.to_path_buf(),
-        message: error.to_string(),
-    })
-}
-
 #[cfg(test)]
 mod tests {
     use rstest::rstest;
@@ -168,7 +161,7 @@ mod tests {
         #[case] settings: HttpSettings,
         #[case] expected: Verify,
     ) {
-        let config = HttpClientConfig::resolve(&settings).unwrap();
+        let config = HttpClientConfig::resolve(&settings).config;
         assert_eq!(config.verify, expected);
     }
 
@@ -179,42 +172,88 @@ mod tests {
             ..HttpSettings::default()
         }
         .with_environment(&|name: &str| (name == "SSL_VERIFY").then(|| "true".to_string()));
-        let config = HttpClientConfig::resolve(&settings).unwrap();
+        let config = HttpClientConfig::resolve(&settings).config;
         assert_eq!(config.verify, Verify::BuiltInRoots);
     }
 
+    #[rstest]
+    #[case::x25519("X25519", Some(KeyExchangeGroup::X25519))]
+    #[case::openssl_p256("prime256v1", Some(KeyExchangeGroup::Secp256r1))]
+    #[case::p384("secp384r1", Some(KeyExchangeGroup::Secp384r1))]
+    fn ecdh_curve_selects_the_single_key_exchange_group(
+        #[case] curve: &str,
+        #[case] expected: Option<KeyExchangeGroup>,
+    ) {
+        let settings = HttpSettings {
+            ssl_ecdh_curve: Some(curve.into()),
+            ..HttpSettings::default()
+        };
+        let resolution = HttpClientConfig::resolve(&settings);
+        assert_eq!(resolution.config.key_exchange_group, expected);
+        assert_eq!(resolution.unsupported, []);
+    }
+
     #[test]
-    fn cipher_strings_are_rejected_rather_than_ignored() {
+    fn unsupported_ecdh_curve_keeps_the_defaults_and_is_reported() {
+        let settings = HttpSettings {
+            ssl_ecdh_curve: Some("secp521r1".into()),
+            ..HttpSettings::default()
+        };
+        let resolution = HttpClientConfig::resolve(&settings);
+        assert_eq!(resolution.config.key_exchange_group, None);
+        assert_eq!(
+            resolution.unsupported,
+            [Unsupported::EcdhCurve("secp521r1".into())]
+        );
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn legacy_security_level_keeps_every_suite_and_is_reported_unsupported() {
         let settings = HttpSettings {
             ssl_security_level: Some("DEFAULT@SECLEVEL=1".into()),
             ..HttpSettings::default()
         };
-        assert!(matches!(
-            HttpClientConfig::resolve(&settings),
-            Err(Error::Unsupported {
-                setting: "ssl_security_level",
-                ..
-            })
-        ));
+        let resolution = HttpClientConfig::resolve(&settings);
+        assert_eq!(resolution.config.tls12_cipher_suites, None);
+        assert_eq!(
+            resolution.unsupported,
+            [Unsupported::SecurityLevel("@SECLEVEL=1".into())]
+        );
     }
 
     #[test]
-    fn ecdh_curves_are_rejected_rather_than_ignored() {
+    fn named_suites_restrict_tls12_and_unsupported_entries_are_reported() {
         let settings = HttpSettings {
-            ssl_ecdh_curve: Some("X25519".into()),
+            ssl_security_level: Some(
+                "ECDHE-RSA-AES256-GCM-SHA384:ECDHE-ECDSA-AES128-GCM-SHA256:!aNULL:AES256-SHA@SECLEVEL=2"
+                    .into(),
+            ),
             ..HttpSettings::default()
         };
-        assert!(matches!(
-            HttpClientConfig::resolve(&settings),
-            Err(Error::Unsupported {
-                setting: "ssl_ecdh_curve",
-                ..
-            })
-        ));
+        let resolution = HttpClientConfig::resolve(&settings);
+        assert_eq!(
+            resolution.config.tls12_cipher_suites,
+            Some(vec![
+                Tls12CipherSuite::EcdheEcdsaAes128Gcm,
+                Tls12CipherSuite::EcdheRsaAes256Gcm
+            ])
+        );
+        assert_eq!(
+            resolution.unsupported,
+            [
+                Unsupported::CipherToken("!aNULL".into()),
+                Unsupported::CipherToken("AES256-SHA".into())
+            ]
+        );
     }
 
     #[test]
     fn connection_settings_carry_over_unchanged() {
+        let keepalive = TcpKeepalive {
+            idle: Duration::from_secs(60),
+            interval: Duration::from_secs(30),
+            retries: 5,
+        };
         let settings = HttpSettings {
             ssl_certificate: Some("/client.pem".into()),
             force_ipv4: true,
@@ -222,19 +261,25 @@ mod tests {
             user_agent: Some("litellm/1.0".into()),
             trust_proxy_env: true,
             connect_timeout: Duration::from_secs(7),
+            tcp_keepalive: Some(keepalive),
+            pool_idle_timeout: Duration::from_secs(45),
             ..HttpSettings::default()
         };
-        let config = HttpClientConfig::resolve(&settings).unwrap();
+        let config = HttpClientConfig::resolve(&settings).config;
         assert_eq!(
             config,
             HttpClientConfig {
                 verify: Verify::BuiltInRoots,
                 client_certificate: Some("/client.pem".into()),
+                key_exchange_group: None,
+                tls12_cipher_suites: None,
                 force_ipv4: true,
                 http2: true,
                 user_agent: Some("litellm/1.0".into()),
                 trust_proxy_env: true,
                 connect_timeout: Duration::from_secs(7),
+                tcp_keepalive: Some(keepalive),
+                pool_idle_timeout: Duration::from_secs(45),
             }
         );
     }
@@ -258,7 +303,7 @@ mod tests {
         #[case] settings: HttpSettings,
         #[case] expected: bool,
     ) {
-        let config = HttpClientConfig::resolve(&settings).unwrap();
+        let config = HttpClientConfig::resolve(&settings).config;
         assert_eq!(config.trust_proxy_env, expected);
     }
 
@@ -267,7 +312,7 @@ mod tests {
         let path = std::env::temp_dir().join("litellm-http-missing-bundle.pem");
         let config = HttpClientConfig {
             verify: Verify::CaBundle(path.clone()),
-            ..HttpClientConfig::resolve(&HttpSettings::default()).unwrap()
+            ..HttpClientConfig::resolve(&HttpSettings::default()).config
         };
         assert!(matches!(
             config.client_builder(),
@@ -282,7 +327,7 @@ mod tests {
         std::fs::write(&path, b"not a certificate").unwrap();
         let config = HttpClientConfig {
             verify: Verify::CaBundle(path.clone()),
-            ..HttpClientConfig::resolve(&HttpSettings::default()).unwrap()
+            ..HttpClientConfig::resolve(&HttpSettings::default()).config
         };
         let result = config.client_builder().map(drop);
         std::fs::remove_file(&path).unwrap();
diff --git a/litellm-rust/crates/http/src/error.rs b/litellm-rust/crates/http/src/error.rs
index 27899f06cf1..697d0cf59c8 100644
--- a/litellm-rust/crates/http/src/error.rs
+++ b/litellm-rust/crates/http/src/error.rs
@@ -2,11 +2,6 @@ use std::path::PathBuf;
 
 #[derive(Clone, Debug, thiserror::Error, PartialEq, Eq)]
 pub enum Error {
-    #[error("{setting} cannot be expressed with rustls: {reason}")]
-    Unsupported {
-        setting: &'static str,
-        reason: String,
-    },
     #[error("could not read {}: {message}", path.display())]
     Read { path: PathBuf, message: String },
     #[error("{} is not a PEM file: {message}", path.display())]
diff --git a/litellm-rust/crates/http/src/lib.rs b/litellm-rust/crates/http/src/lib.rs
index c02a82539ff..45f370d3a9c 100644
--- a/litellm-rust/crates/http/src/lib.rs
+++ b/litellm-rust/crates/http/src/lib.rs
@@ -1,9 +1,13 @@
 mod config;
 mod error;
 mod pool;
+mod proxy;
 mod settings;
+mod tls;
 
-pub use config::{HttpClientConfig, Verify};
+pub use config::{HttpClientConfig, Resolution, Verify};
 pub use error::Error;
 pub use pool::{ClientVariant, HttpClientPool};
-pub use settings::{HttpSettings, SslVerify};
+pub use proxy::EnvironmentProxies;
+pub use settings::{HttpSettings, SslVerify, TcpKeepalive};
+pub use tls::{KeyExchangeGroup, Tls12CipherSuite, Unsupported, client_config};
diff --git a/litellm-rust/crates/http/src/pool.rs b/litellm-rust/crates/http/src/pool.rs
index b51e6711419..e6e0de9bc5f 100644
--- a/litellm-rust/crates/http/src/pool.rs
+++ b/litellm-rust/crates/http/src/pool.rs
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ pub enum ClientVariant {
     Provider,
     NoRedirect,
     Media,
+    UnpinnedMedia,
 }
 
 const CLIENT_TTL: Duration = Duration::from_secs(3600);
@@ -54,6 +55,10 @@ impl HttpClientPool {
                 trust_proxy_env: false,
                 ..config.clone()
             },
+            ClientVariant::UnpinnedMedia => HttpClientConfig {
+                client_certificate: None,
+                ..config.clone()
+            },
             ClientVariant::Provider | ClientVariant::NoRedirect => config.clone(),
         };
         let key = (effective, variant);
@@ -84,7 +89,9 @@ impl HttpClientPool {
     ) -> reqwest::ClientBuilder {
         match variant {
             ClientVariant::Provider => builder,
-            ClientVariant::NoRedirect => builder.redirect(reqwest::redirect::Policy::none()),
+            ClientVariant::NoRedirect | ClientVariant::UnpinnedMedia => {
+                builder.redirect(reqwest::redirect::Policy::none())
+            }
             ClientVariant::Media => builder
                 .redirect(reqwest::redirect::Policy::none())
                 .dns_resolver2(Arc::clone(&self.media_resolver)),
@@ -125,7 +132,7 @@ mod tests {
     fn config(user_agent: &str) -> HttpClientConfig {
         HttpClientConfig {
             user_agent: Some(user_agent.into()),
-            ..HttpClientConfig::resolve(&HttpSettings::default()).unwrap()
+            ..HttpClientConfig::resolve(&HttpSettings::default()).config
         }
     }
 
@@ -233,6 +240,10 @@ mod tests {
                 .is_err()
         );
         assert!(pool.client(&with_identity, ClientVariant::Media).is_ok());
+        assert!(
+            pool.client(&with_identity, ClientVariant::UnpinnedMedia)
+                .is_ok()
+        );
     }
 
     #[test]
@@ -277,6 +288,20 @@ mod tests {
         assert_eq!(response.headers()["location"], "/elsewhere");
     }
 
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn unpinned_media_variant_uses_the_system_resolver_and_returns_redirects() {
+        let (address, _, _) = serve("HTTP/1.1 302 Found").await;
+        let pool = HttpClientPool::new(Arc::new(FixedResolver(([192, 0, 2, 1], 80).into())));
+        let response = get(
+            &pool,
+            &config("a"),
+            ClientVariant::UnpinnedMedia,
+            &format!("http://localhost:{}/doc", address.port()),
+        )
+        .await;
+        assert_eq!(response.status(), 302);
+    }
+
     #[tokio::test]
     async fn media_variant_resolves_through_the_injected_resolver() {
         let (address, _, requests) = serve("HTTP/1.1 204 No Content").await;
diff --git a/litellm-rust/crates/http/src/proxy.rs b/litellm-rust/crates/http/src/proxy.rs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..4dc4bf778b8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/litellm-rust/crates/http/src/proxy.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+use hyper_util::client::proxy::matcher::Matcher;
+
+pub struct EnvironmentProxies(Matcher);
+
+impl EnvironmentProxies {
+    pub fn from_environment() -> Self {
+        Self(Matcher::from_system())
+    }
+
+    pub fn apply_to(&self, url: &reqwest::Url) -> bool {
+        url.as_str()
+            .parse::<http::Uri>()
+            .is_ok_and(|uri| self.0.intercept(&uri).is_some())
+    }
+}
diff --git a/litellm-rust/crates/http/src/settings.rs b/litellm-rust/crates/http/src/settings.rs
index 8aaf7f21f2c..be2f4f42fb4 100644
--- a/litellm-rust/crates/http/src/settings.rs
+++ b/litellm-rust/crates/http/src/settings.rs
@@ -20,6 +20,13 @@ impl SslVerify {
     }
 }
 
+#[derive(Clone, Copy, Debug, PartialEq, Eq, Hash)]
+pub struct TcpKeepalive {
+    pub idle: Duration,
+    pub interval: Duration,
+    pub retries: u32,
+}
+
 #[derive(Clone, Debug, PartialEq, Eq)]
 pub struct HttpSettings {
     pub ssl_verify: Option<SslVerify>,
@@ -34,6 +41,8 @@ pub struct HttpSettings {
     pub trust_proxy_env: bool,
     pub ignore_proxy_env: bool,
     pub connect_timeout: Duration,
+    pub tcp_keepalive: Option<TcpKeepalive>,
+    pub pool_idle_timeout: Duration,
 }
 
 impl Default for HttpSettings {
@@ -51,6 +60,8 @@ impl Default for HttpSettings {
             trust_proxy_env: false,
             ignore_proxy_env: false,
             connect_timeout: Duration::from_secs(10),
+            tcp_keepalive: None,
+            pool_idle_timeout: Duration::from_secs(120),
         }
     }
 }
@@ -59,6 +70,10 @@ impl HttpSettings {
     pub fn with_environment(self, env: &(dyn Fn(&str) -> Option<String> + Sync)) -> Self {
         let enabled =
             |name: &str| env(name).is_some_and(|value| value.trim().eq_ignore_ascii_case("true"));
+        let number = |name: &str| env(name).and_then(|value| value.trim().parse::<u32>().ok());
+        let seconds = |name: &str, default: u32| {
+            Duration::from_secs(u64::from(number(name).unwrap_or(default)))
+        };
         Self {
             ssl_verify: env("SSL_VERIFY")
                 .map(|value| SslVerify::parse(&value))
@@ -81,6 +96,17 @@ impl HttpSettings {
             user_agent: env("LITELLM_USER_AGENT").or(self.user_agent),
             trust_proxy_env: self.trust_proxy_env || enabled("AIOHTTP_TRUST_ENV"),
             ignore_proxy_env: self.ignore_proxy_env || enabled("DISABLE_AIOHTTP_TRUST_ENV"),
+            tcp_keepalive: enabled("AIOHTTP_SO_KEEPALIVE")
+                .then(|| TcpKeepalive {
+                    idle: seconds("AIOHTTP_TCP_KEEPIDLE", 60),
+                    interval: seconds("AIOHTTP_TCP_KEEPINTVL", 30),
+                    retries: number("AIOHTTP_TCP_KEEPCNT").unwrap_or(5),
+                })
+                .or(self.tcp_keepalive),
+            pool_idle_timeout: number("AIOHTTP_KEEPALIVE_TIMEOUT")
+                .map_or(self.pool_idle_timeout, |timeout| {
+                    Duration::from_secs(u64::from(timeout))
+                }),
             ..self
         }
     }
@@ -188,6 +214,32 @@ mod tests {
         assert_eq!(settings.ssl_ecdh_curve, None);
     }
 
+    #[test]
+    fn socket_keepalive_follows_the_aiohttp_variables_with_python_defaults() {
+        let tuned = HttpSettings::default().with_environment(&env_of(&[
+            ("AIOHTTP_SO_KEEPALIVE", "True"),
+            ("AIOHTTP_TCP_KEEPIDLE", "45"),
+            ("AIOHTTP_KEEPALIVE_TIMEOUT", "30"),
+        ]));
+        assert_eq!(
+            tuned.tcp_keepalive,
+            Some(TcpKeepalive {
+                idle: Duration::from_secs(45),
+                interval: Duration::from_secs(30),
+                retries: 5,
+            })
+        );
+        assert_eq!(tuned.pool_idle_timeout, Duration::from_secs(30));
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn socket_keepalive_stays_off_unless_enabled() {
+        let settings =
+            HttpSettings::default().with_environment(&env_of(&[("AIOHTTP_TCP_KEEPIDLE", "45")]));
+        assert_eq!(settings.tcp_keepalive, None);
+        assert_eq!(settings.pool_idle_timeout, Duration::from_secs(120));
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn missing_files_fall_back_to_default_verification() {
         let settings = HttpSettings {
diff --git a/litellm-rust/crates/http/src/tls.rs b/litellm-rust/crates/http/src/tls.rs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..605200c0be6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/litellm-rust/crates/http/src/tls.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,402 @@
+use std::{fmt, path::Path, sync::Arc};
+
+use rustls::{
+    CipherSuite, ClientConfig, DigitallySignedStruct, RootCertStore, SignatureScheme,
+    client::danger::{HandshakeSignatureValid, ServerCertVerified, ServerCertVerifier},
+    crypto::{CryptoProvider, SupportedKxGroup, ring},
+    pki_types::{CertificateDer, PrivateKeyDer, ServerName, UnixTime, pem::PemObject},
+};
+
+use crate::{
+    config::{HttpClientConfig, Verify},
+    error::Error,
+};
+
+#[derive(Clone, Copy, Debug, PartialEq, Eq, Hash)]
+pub enum KeyExchangeGroup {
+    X25519,
+    Secp256r1,
+    Secp384r1,
+}
+
+impl KeyExchangeGroup {
+    pub(crate) fn from_openssl_name(name: &str) -> Result<Self, Unsupported> {
+        match name.trim().to_ascii_lowercase().as_str() {
+            "x25519" => Ok(Self::X25519),
+            "prime256v1" | "secp256r1" | "p-256" => Ok(Self::Secp256r1),
+            "secp384r1" | "p-384" => Ok(Self::Secp384r1),
+            _ => Err(Unsupported::EcdhCurve(name.to_owned())),
+        }
+    }
+
+    fn supported(self) -> &'static dyn SupportedKxGroup {
+        match self {
+            Self::X25519 => ring::kx_group::X25519,
+            Self::Secp256r1 => ring::kx_group::SECP256R1,
+            Self::Secp384r1 => ring::kx_group::SECP384R1,
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+#[derive(Clone, Copy, Debug, PartialEq, Eq, Hash, PartialOrd, Ord)]
+pub enum Tls12CipherSuite {
+    EcdheEcdsaAes128Gcm,
+    EcdheEcdsaAes256Gcm,
+    EcdheEcdsaChacha20,
+    EcdheRsaAes128Gcm,
+    EcdheRsaAes256Gcm,
+    EcdheRsaChacha20,
+}
+
+impl Tls12CipherSuite {
+    fn from_openssl_name(name: &str) -> Option<Self> {
+        match name {
+            "ECDHE-ECDSA-AES128-GCM-SHA256" => Some(Self::EcdheEcdsaAes128Gcm),
+            "ECDHE-ECDSA-AES256-GCM-SHA384" => Some(Self::EcdheEcdsaAes256Gcm),
+            "ECDHE-ECDSA-CHACHA20-POLY1305" => Some(Self::EcdheEcdsaChacha20),
+            "ECDHE-RSA-AES128-GCM-SHA256" => Some(Self::EcdheRsaAes128Gcm),
+            "ECDHE-RSA-AES256-GCM-SHA384" => Some(Self::EcdheRsaAes256Gcm),
+            "ECDHE-RSA-CHACHA20-POLY1305" => Some(Self::EcdheRsaChacha20),
+            _ => None,
+        }
+    }
+
+    fn suite(self) -> CipherSuite {
+        match self {
+            Self::EcdheEcdsaAes128Gcm => CipherSuite::TLS_ECDHE_ECDSA_WITH_AES_128_GCM_SHA256,
+            Self::EcdheEcdsaAes256Gcm => CipherSuite::TLS_ECDHE_ECDSA_WITH_AES_256_GCM_SHA384,
+            Self::EcdheEcdsaChacha20 => CipherSuite::TLS_ECDHE_ECDSA_WITH_CHACHA20_POLY1305_SHA256,
+            Self::EcdheRsaAes128Gcm => CipherSuite::TLS_ECDHE_RSA_WITH_AES_128_GCM_SHA256,
+            Self::EcdheRsaAes256Gcm => CipherSuite::TLS_ECDHE_RSA_WITH_AES_256_GCM_SHA384,
+            Self::EcdheRsaChacha20 => CipherSuite::TLS_ECDHE_RSA_WITH_CHACHA20_POLY1305_SHA256,
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+#[derive(Clone, Debug, PartialEq, Eq, Hash, thiserror::Error)]
+pub enum Unsupported {
+    #[error(
+        "ssl_ecdh_curve {0:?} is not supported: rustls with ring only offers X25519, prime256v1 and secp384r1, so the default key exchange groups are used"
+    )]
+    EcdhCurve(String),
+    #[error(
+        "ssl_security_level {0:?} is not supported: rustls has one fixed security level, comparable to OpenSSL level 2, so legacy servers that need a lower level cannot be reached"
+    )]
+    SecurityLevel(String),
+    #[error(
+        "ssl_security_level entry {0:?} is not supported: rustls only offers ECDHE AEAD cipher suites, so the entry is ignored"
+    )]
+    CipherToken(String),
+}
+
+pub(crate) struct CipherSelection {
+    pub(crate) tls12_cipher_suites: Option<Vec<Tls12CipherSuite>>,
+    pub(crate) unsupported: Vec<Unsupported>,
+}
+
+enum CipherToken {
+    Suite(Tls12CipherSuite),
+    EverySuite,
+    Ordering,
+    Unsupported(Unsupported),
+}
+
+fn cipher_token(token: &str) -> CipherToken {
+    if let Some(suite) = Tls12CipherSuite::from_openssl_name(token) {
+        return CipherToken::Suite(suite);
+    }
+    match token {
+        "DEFAULT" | "ALL" | "HIGH" => CipherToken::EverySuite,
+        "@STRENGTH" | "@SECLEVEL=2" => CipherToken::Ordering,
+        level if level.starts_with("@SECLEVEL=") => {
+            CipherToken::Unsupported(Unsupported::SecurityLevel(level.to_owned()))
+        }
+        other => CipherToken::Unsupported(Unsupported::CipherToken(other.to_owned())),
+    }
+}
+
+pub(crate) fn parse_cipher_string(value: &str) -> CipherSelection {
+    let tokens: Vec<CipherToken> = tokenize(value)
+        .iter()
+        .map(|token| cipher_token(token))
+        .collect();
+    let every_suite = tokens
+        .iter()
+        .any(|token| matches!(token, CipherToken::EverySuite));
+    let mut suites: Vec<Tls12CipherSuite> = tokens
+        .iter()
+        .filter_map(|token| match token {
+            CipherToken::Suite(suite) => Some(*suite),
+            _ => None,
+        })
+        .collect();
+    suites.sort_unstable();
+    suites.dedup();
+    CipherSelection {
+        tls12_cipher_suites: (!every_suite && !suites.is_empty()).then_some(suites),
+        unsupported: tokens
+            .into_iter()
+            .filter_map(|token| match token {
+                CipherToken::Unsupported(unsupported) => Some(unsupported),
+                _ => None,
+            })
+            .collect(),
+    }
+}
+
+fn tokenize(value: &str) -> Vec<String> {
+    value
+        .split([':', ',', ' '])
+        .flat_map(|entry| match entry.split_once('@') {
+            Some((name, command)) => vec![name.to_owned(), format!("@{command}")],
+            None => vec![entry.to_owned()],
+        })
+        .filter(|token| !token.is_empty())
+        .collect()
+}
+
+pub fn client_config(config: &HttpClientConfig) -> Result<ClientConfig, Error> {
+    let base = ring::default_provider();
+    let provider = Arc::new(CryptoProvider {
+        kx_groups: config
+            .key_exchange_group
+            .map_or_else(|| base.kx_groups.clone(), |group| vec![group.supported()]),
+        cipher_suites: base
+            .cipher_suites
+            .iter()
+            .copied()
+            .filter(|suite| {
+                suite.tls13().is_some()
+                    || config
+                        .tls12_cipher_suites
+                        .as_ref()
+                        .is_none_or(|allowed| allowed.iter().any(|a| a.suite() == suite.suite()))
+            })
+            .collect(),
+        ..base
+    });
+    let builder = ClientConfig::builder_with_provider(Arc::clone(&provider))
+        .with_safe_default_protocol_versions()
+        .map_err(|error| Error::Client(error.to_string()))?;
+    let verified = match &config.verify {
+        Verify::Disabled => builder
+            .dangerous()
+            .with_custom_certificate_verifier(Arc::new(NoVerification(provider))),
+        Verify::BuiltInRoots => builder.with_root_certificates(built_in_roots()),
+        Verify::CaBundle(path) => builder.with_root_certificates(bundle_roots(path)?),
+    };
+    let mut tls = match &config.client_certificate {
+        None => verified.with_no_client_auth(),
+        Some(path) => {
+            let (chain, key) = identity(path)?;
+            verified
+                .with_client_auth_cert(chain, key)
+                .map_err(|error| invalid_pem(path, error))?
+        }
+    };
+    tls.alpn_protocols = if config.http2 {
+        vec![b"h2".to_vec(), b"http/1.1".to_vec()]
+    } else {
+        vec![b"http/1.1".to_vec()]
+    };
+    Ok(tls)
+}
+
+fn built_in_roots() -> RootCertStore {
+    let mut store = RootCertStore::empty();
+    store.extend(webpki_roots::TLS_SERVER_ROOTS.iter().cloned());
+    store
+}
+
+fn bundle_roots(path: &Path) -> Result<RootCertStore, Error> {
+    let certificates = certificates(path)?;
+    if certificates.is_empty() {
+        return Err(invalid_pem(path, "no certificates found"));
+    }
+    let mut store = RootCertStore::empty();
+    for certificate in certificates {
+        store
+            .add(certificate)
+            .map_err(|error| invalid_pem(path, error))?;
+    }
+    Ok(store)
+}
+
+fn identity(path: &Path) -> Result<(Vec<CertificateDer<'static>>, PrivateKeyDer<'static>), Error> {
+    let chain = certificates(path)?;
+    if chain.is_empty() {
+        return Err(invalid_pem(path, "no certificates found"));
+    }
+    let key =
+        PrivateKeyDer::from_pem_slice(&read(path)?).map_err(|error| invalid_pem(path, error))?;
+    Ok((chain, key))
+}
+
+fn certificates(path: &Path) -> Result<Vec<CertificateDer<'static>>, Error> {
+    CertificateDer::pem_slice_iter(&read(path)?)
+        .collect::<Result<_, _>>()
+        .map_err(|error| invalid_pem(path, error))
+}
+
+fn read(path: &Path) -> Result<Vec<u8>, Error> {
+    std::fs::read(path).map_err(|error| Error::Read {
+        path: path.to_path_buf(),
+        message: error.to_string(),
+    })
+}
+
+fn invalid_pem(path: &Path, message: impl fmt::Display) -> Error {
+    Error::InvalidPem {
+        path: path.to_path_buf(),
+        message: message.to_string(),
+    }
+}
+
+#[derive(Debug)]
+struct NoVerification(Arc<CryptoProvider>);
+
+impl ServerCertVerifier for NoVerification {
+    fn verify_server_cert(
+        &self,
+        _end_entity: &CertificateDer<'_>,
+        _intermediates: &[CertificateDer<'_>],
+        _server_name: &ServerName<'_>,
+        _ocsp_response: &[u8],
+        _now: UnixTime,
+    ) -> Result<ServerCertVerified, rustls::Error> {
+        Ok(ServerCertVerified::assertion())
+    }
+
+    fn verify_tls12_signature(
+        &self,
+        _message: &[u8],
+        _cert: &CertificateDer<'_>,
+        _dss: &DigitallySignedStruct,
+    ) -> Result<HandshakeSignatureValid, rustls::Error> {
+        Ok(HandshakeSignatureValid::assertion())
+    }
+
+    fn verify_tls13_signature(
+        &self,
+        _message: &[u8],
+        _cert: &CertificateDer<'_>,
+        _dss: &DigitallySignedStruct,
+    ) -> Result<HandshakeSignatureValid, rustls::Error> {
+        Ok(HandshakeSignatureValid::assertion())
+    }
+
+    fn supported_verify_schemes(&self) -> Vec<SignatureScheme> {
+        self.0.signature_verification_algorithms.supported_schemes()
+    }
+}
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod tests {
+    use rstest::rstest;
+    use rustls::NamedGroup;
+
+    use super::*;
+    use crate::HttpSettings;
+
+    fn config(settings: HttpSettings) -> HttpClientConfig {
+        HttpClientConfig::resolve(&settings).config
+    }
+
+    fn offered_groups(tls: &ClientConfig) -> Vec<NamedGroup> {
+        tls.crypto_provider()
+            .kx_groups
+            .iter()
+            .map(|group| group.name())
+            .collect()
+    }
+
+    fn offered_tls12_suites(tls: &ClientConfig) -> Vec<CipherSuite> {
+        tls.crypto_provider()
+            .cipher_suites
+            .iter()
+            .filter(|suite| suite.tls13().is_none())
+            .map(|suite| suite.suite())
+            .collect()
+    }
+
+    #[rstest]
+    #[case("X25519", NamedGroup::X25519)]
+    #[case("prime256v1", NamedGroup::secp256r1)]
+    #[case("secp384r1", NamedGroup::secp384r1)]
+    fn ecdh_curve_is_the_only_key_exchange_group_offered(
+        #[case] curve: &str,
+        #[case] expected: NamedGroup,
+    ) {
+        let tls = client_config(&config(HttpSettings {
+            ssl_ecdh_curve: Some(curve.into()),
+            ..HttpSettings::default()
+        }))
+        .unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(offered_groups(&tls), [expected]);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn default_settings_offer_every_group_and_suite_of_the_provider() {
+        let tls = client_config(&config(HttpSettings::default())).unwrap();
+        let provider = ring::default_provider();
+        assert_eq!(offered_groups(&tls).len(), provider.kx_groups.len());
+        assert_eq!(
+            tls.crypto_provider().cipher_suites.len(),
+            provider.cipher_suites.len()
+        );
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn named_suites_are_the_only_tls12_suites_offered_and_tls13_stays() {
+        let tls = client_config(&config(HttpSettings {
+            ssl_security_level: Some("ECDHE-RSA-AES256-GCM-SHA384".into()),
+            ..HttpSettings::default()
+        }))
+        .unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(
+            offered_tls12_suites(&tls),
+            [CipherSuite::TLS_ECDHE_RSA_WITH_AES_256_GCM_SHA384]
+        );
+        assert!(
+            tls.crypto_provider()
+                .cipher_suites
+                .iter()
+                .any(|suite| suite.tls13().is_some())
+        );
+    }
+
+    #[rstest]
+    #[case(true, &[b"h2".as_slice(), b"http/1.1".as_slice()])]
+    #[case(false, &[b"http/1.1".as_slice()])]
+    fn alpn_offers_h2_only_when_http2_is_on(#[case] http2: bool, #[case] expected: &[&[u8]]) {
+        let tls = client_config(&config(HttpSettings {
+            http2,
+            ..HttpSettings::default()
+        }))
+        .unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(tls.alpn_protocols, expected);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn client_certificate_without_a_private_key_is_an_invalid_pem_error() {
+        let path = std::env::temp_dir().join(format!(
+            "litellm-http-cert-without-key-{}.pem",
+            std::process::id()
+        ));
+        std::fs::write(
+            &path,
+            b"-----BEGIN CERTIFICATE-----\nAA==\n-----END CERTIFICATE-----\n",
+        )
+        .unwrap();
+        let result = client_config(&HttpClientConfig {
+            client_certificate: Some(path.clone()),
+            ..config(HttpSettings::default())
+        })
+        .map(drop);
+        std::fs::remove_file(&path).unwrap();
+        assert!(matches!(
+            result,
+            Err(Error::InvalidPem { path: reported, .. }) if reported == path
+        ));
+    }
+}
diff --git a/litellm-rust/crates/llms/src/custom_httpx/llm_http_handler.rs b/litellm-rust/crates/llms/src/custom_httpx/llm_http_handler.rs
index 876fa0aae87..58dc03eea2d 100644
--- a/litellm-rust/crates/llms/src/custom_httpx/llm_http_handler.rs
+++ b/litellm-rust/crates/llms/src/custom_httpx/llm_http_handler.rs
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ use crate::{
     },
     custom_httpx::{
         http_handler::{HeaderPolicy, execute_http_request, with_headers},
-        media::MediaFetcher,
+        media::{MediaFetcher, UrlPolicy},
         transport,
     },
 };
@@ -41,12 +41,13 @@ impl OcrClient {
     pub fn new(
         pool: &HttpClientPool,
         config: &HttpClientConfig,
+        url_policy: UrlPolicy,
         vertex_auth: VertexAuth,
     ) -> Result<Self, litellm_http::Error> {
         Ok(Self {
             provider_http: pool.client(config, ClientVariant::Provider)?,
             polling_http: pool.client(config, ClientVariant::NoRedirect)?,
-            document_fetcher: MediaFetcher::new(pool, config)?,
+            document_fetcher: MediaFetcher::new(pool, config, url_policy)?,
             vertex_auth,
         })
     }
diff --git a/litellm-rust/crates/llms/src/custom_httpx/media.rs b/litellm-rust/crates/llms/src/custom_httpx/media.rs
index a1c4fe68734..02d152d3ef1 100644
--- a/litellm-rust/crates/llms/src/custom_httpx/media.rs
+++ b/litellm-rust/crates/llms/src/custom_httpx/media.rs
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ use std::{
     time::Duration,
 };
 
-use litellm_http::{ClientVariant, HttpClientConfig, HttpClientPool};
+use litellm_http::{ClientVariant, EnvironmentProxies, HttpClientConfig, HttpClientPool};
 use reqwest::{
     Url,
     dns::{Addrs, Name, Resolve, Resolving},
@@ -35,10 +35,45 @@ pub enum Error {
     Transport(#[from] crate::custom_httpx::transport::Error),
 }
 
+#[derive(Clone, Debug, PartialEq, Eq)]
+pub struct UrlPolicy {
+    pub validate: bool,
+    pub allowed_hosts: Vec<String>,
+}
+
+impl Default for UrlPolicy {
+    fn default() -> Self {
+        Self {
+            validate: true,
+            allowed_hosts: Vec::new(),
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+impl UrlPolicy {
+    fn allows(&self, host: &str, port: u16) -> bool {
+        let host = normalize_host(host);
+        let with_port = format!("{host}:{port}");
+        self.allowed_hosts
+            .iter()
+            .map(|entry| normalize_host(entry))
+            .any(|entry| entry == host || entry == with_port)
+    }
+}
+
+fn normalize_host(host: &str) -> String {
+    host.to_ascii_lowercase().trim_end_matches('.').to_owned()
+}
+
+type ProxyMatch = Arc<dyn Fn(&Url) -> bool + Send + Sync>;
+
 #[derive(Clone)]
 pub struct MediaFetcher {
-    client: reqwest::Client,
+    pinned: reqwest::Client,
+    unpinned: reqwest::Client,
+    uses_proxy: ProxyMatch,
     address_resolver: Arc<dyn AddressResolver>,
+    url_policy: UrlPolicy,
     allow_private_network: bool,
 }
 
@@ -65,19 +100,36 @@ impl MediaFetcher {
     pub fn new(
         pool: &HttpClientPool,
         config: &HttpClientConfig,
+        url_policy: UrlPolicy,
     ) -> Result<Self, litellm_http::Error> {
-        Self::with_address_resolver(pool, config, Arc::new(SystemAddressResolver))
+        let uses_proxy: ProxyMatch = if config.trust_proxy_env {
+            let proxies = EnvironmentProxies::from_environment();
+            Arc::new(move |url| proxies.apply_to(url))
+        } else {
+            Arc::new(|_| false)
+        };
+        Self::with_resolution(
+            pool,
+            config,
+            url_policy,
+            Arc::new(SystemAddressResolver),
+            uses_proxy,
+        )
     }
 
-    fn with_address_resolver(
+    fn with_resolution(
         pool: &HttpClientPool,
         config: &HttpClientConfig,
+        url_policy: UrlPolicy,
         address_resolver: Arc<dyn AddressResolver>,
+        uses_proxy: ProxyMatch,
     ) -> Result<Self, litellm_http::Error> {
-        let client = pool.client(config, ClientVariant::Media)?;
         Ok(Self {
-            client,
+            pinned: pool.client(config, ClientVariant::Media)?,
+            unpinned: pool.client(config, ClientVariant::UnpinnedMedia)?,
+            uses_proxy,
             address_resolver,
+            url_policy,
             allow_private_network: false,
         })
     }
@@ -85,8 +137,11 @@ impl MediaFetcher {
     #[cfg(any(test, feature = "test-support"))]
     pub fn for_test(client: reqwest::Client) -> Self {
         Self {
-            client,
+            pinned: client.clone(),
+            unpinned: client,
+            uses_proxy: Arc::new(|_| false),
             address_resolver: Arc::new(AllowPrivateResolver),
+            url_policy: UrlPolicy::default(),
             allow_private_network: true,
         }
     }
@@ -107,9 +162,9 @@ impl MediaFetcher {
     ) -> Result<DownloadedMedia, Error> {
         let mut redirects_followed = 0;
         loop {
-            self.validate_url(&url).await?;
             let mut response = self
-                .client
+                .client_for(&url)
+                .await?
                 .get(url.clone())
                 .send()
                 .await
@@ -156,7 +211,10 @@ impl MediaFetcher {
         }
     }
 
-    async fn validate_url(&self, url: &Url) -> Result<(), Error> {
+    async fn client_for(&self, url: &Url) -> Result<&reqwest::Client, Error> {
+        if !self.url_policy.validate {
+            return Ok(&self.unpinned);
+        }
         if !matches!(url.scheme(), "http" | "https")
             || !url.username().is_empty()
             || url.password().is_some()
@@ -165,12 +223,28 @@ impl MediaFetcher {
         }
         let host = url.host_str().ok_or(Error::BlockedUrl)?;
         if self.allow_private_network {
-            return Ok(());
-        }
-        if let Ok(ip) = host.parse::<IpAddr>() {
-            return (!is_blocked_ip(ip)).then_some(()).ok_or(Error::BlockedUrl);
+            return Ok(&self.pinned);
         }
         let port = url.port_or_known_default().ok_or(Error::BlockedUrl)?;
+        if self.url_policy.allows(host, port) {
+            return Ok(&self.unpinned);
+        }
+        self.validate_host(host, port).await?;
+        Ok(if (self.uses_proxy)(url) {
+            &self.unpinned
+        } else {
+            &self.pinned
+        })
+    }
+
+    async fn validate_host(&self, host: &str, port: u16) -> Result<(), Error> {
+        if let Ok(ip) = host
+            .trim_start_matches('[')
+            .trim_end_matches(']')
+            .parse::<IpAddr>()
+        {
+            return (!is_blocked_ip(ip)).then_some(()).ok_or(Error::BlockedUrl);
+        }
         let addresses = self
             .address_resolver
             .resolve(host, port)
@@ -360,14 +434,35 @@ mod tests {
         address: SocketAddr,
         blocked_hosts: HashSet<&'static str>,
     ) -> MediaFetcher {
-        MediaFetcher::with_address_resolver(
-            &HttpClientPool::new(Arc::new(LoopbackDnsResolver(address))),
-            &HttpClientConfig::resolve(&HttpSettings::default()).unwrap(),
+        fetcher(address, blocked_hosts, UrlPolicy::default(), false)
+    }
+
+    fn fetcher(
+        pinned_address: SocketAddr,
+        blocked_hosts: HashSet<&'static str>,
+        url_policy: UrlPolicy,
+        uses_proxy: bool,
+    ) -> MediaFetcher {
+        let direct = HttpClientConfig {
+            trust_proxy_env: false,
+            ..HttpClientConfig::resolve(&HttpSettings::default()).config
+        };
+        MediaFetcher::with_resolution(
+            &HttpClientPool::new(Arc::new(LoopbackDnsResolver(pinned_address))),
+            &direct,
+            url_policy,
             Arc::new(TestAddressResolver { blocked_hosts }),
+            Arc::new(move |_| uses_proxy),
         )
         .expect("test fetcher builds")
     }
 
+    const UNROUTABLE: SocketAddr =
+        SocketAddr::new(IpAddr::V4(std::net::Ipv4Addr::new(192, 0, 2, 1)), 9);
+
+    const OK_RESPONSE: &[u8] =
+        b"HTTP/1.1 200 OK\r\nContent-Length: 2\r\nConnection: close\r\n\r\nok";
+
     fn policy(max_bytes: u64, max_redirects: usize) -> DownloadPolicy {
         DownloadPolicy {
             timeout: Duration::from_secs(1),
@@ -541,14 +636,88 @@ mod tests {
     async fn rejects_url_credentials_before_network_access() {
         let fetcher = MediaFetcher::new(
             &HttpClientPool::new(Arc::new(PublicDnsResolver)),
-            &HttpClientConfig::resolve(&HttpSettings::default()).expect("default settings resolve"),
+            &HttpClientConfig::resolve(&HttpSettings::default()).config,
+            UrlPolicy::default(),
         )
         .expect("media fetcher builds");
         let url =
             Url::parse("https://user:password@8.8.8.8/document").expect("credentialed URL parses");
         assert!(matches!(
-            fetcher.validate_url(&url).await,
+            fetcher.fetch(url, policy(1, 0)).await,
             Err(Error::BlockedUrl)
         ));
     }
+
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn allowlisted_private_host_is_fetched_without_the_pinned_resolver() {
+        let (url, server, _) = serve_named("localhost", vec![OK_RESPONSE]).await;
+        let port = url.port().expect("test URL has a port");
+        let allowed = UrlPolicy {
+            validate: true,
+            allowed_hosts: vec![format!("LOCALHOST:{port}")],
+        };
+        let media = fetcher(UNROUTABLE, HashSet::from(["localhost"]), allowed, false)
+            .fetch(url, policy(2, 0))
+            .await
+            .expect("allowlisted host downloads");
+        server.await.expect("server completes");
+        assert_eq!(media.bytes, b"ok");
+    }
+
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn allowlist_entry_for_another_port_does_not_open_the_host() {
+        let (url, _server, _) = serve_named("localhost", vec![OK_RESPONSE]).await;
+        let other_port = UrlPolicy {
+            validate: true,
+            allowed_hosts: vec!["localhost:1".into()],
+        };
+        let result = fetcher(UNROUTABLE, HashSet::from(["localhost"]), other_port, false)
+            .fetch(url, policy(2, 0))
+            .await;
+        assert!(matches!(result, Err(Error::BlockedUrl)));
+    }
+
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn validation_off_fetches_private_hosts_and_follows_redirects() {
+        let (url, server, _) = serve_named(
+            "localhost",
+            vec![
+                b"HTTP/1.1 302 Found\r\nLocation: /moved\r\nContent-Length: 0\r\nConnection: close\r\n\r\n",
+                OK_RESPONSE,
+            ],
+        )
+        .await;
+        let off = UrlPolicy {
+            validate: false,
+            allowed_hosts: Vec::new(),
+        };
+        let media = fetcher(UNROUTABLE, HashSet::from(["localhost"]), off, false)
+            .fetch(url, policy(2, 1))
+            .await
+            .expect("unvalidated download succeeds");
+        let requests = server.await.expect("server completes");
+        assert_eq!(media.bytes, b"ok");
+        assert!(requests[1].starts_with("GET /moved "));
+    }
+
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn proxied_urls_skip_the_pinned_resolver_but_keep_the_address_check() {
+        let (url, server, _) = serve_named("localhost", vec![OK_RESPONSE]).await;
+        let media = fetcher(UNROUTABLE, HashSet::new(), UrlPolicy::default(), true)
+            .fetch(url.clone(), policy(2, 0))
+            .await
+            .expect("public host behind a proxy downloads");
+        server.await.expect("server completes");
+        assert_eq!(media.bytes, b"ok");
+
+        let blocked = fetcher(
+            UNROUTABLE,
+            HashSet::from(["localhost"]),
+            UrlPolicy::default(),
+            true,
+        )
+        .fetch(url, policy(2, 0))
+        .await;
+        assert!(matches!(blocked, Err(Error::BlockedUrl)));
+    }
 }
diff --git a/litellm-rust/crates/python-bridge/src/http.rs b/litellm-rust/crates/python-bridge/src/http.rs
index c5952c53132..118f4669b62 100644
--- a/litellm-rust/crates/python-bridge/src/http.rs
+++ b/litellm-rust/crates/python-bridge/src/http.rs
@@ -1,10 +1,11 @@
 use std::{
+    collections::HashSet,
     path::{Path, PathBuf},
-    sync::{Arc, LazyLock},
+    sync::{Arc, LazyLock, Mutex, PoisonError},
 };
 
-use litellm_http::{HttpClientConfig, HttpClientPool, HttpSettings, SslVerify};
-use litellm_llms::custom_httpx::media::PublicDnsResolver;
+use litellm_http::{HttpClientConfig, HttpClientPool, HttpSettings, SslVerify, Unsupported};
+use litellm_llms::custom_httpx::media::{PublicDnsResolver, UrlPolicy};
 use pyo3::{prelude::*, types::PyDict};
 
 use crate::{errors::RustBridgeDeclined, python_settings::PythonSettings};
@@ -12,6 +13,8 @@ use crate::{errors::RustBridgeDeclined, python_settings::PythonSettings};
 static POOL: LazyLock<HttpClientPool> =
     LazyLock::new(|| HttpClientPool::new(Arc::new(PublicDnsResolver)));
 
+static REPORTED_UNSUPPORTED: LazyLock<Mutex<HashSet<Unsupported>>> = LazyLock::new(Mutex::default);
+
 pub(crate) fn pool() -> &'static HttpClientPool {
     &POOL
 }
@@ -21,22 +24,48 @@ pub(crate) fn call_config(
     kwargs: &Bound<'_, PyDict>,
     asynchronous: bool,
 ) -> PyResult<HttpClientConfig> {
-    decline_live_client(kwargs)?;
-    decline_custom_url_policy(&PythonSettings::UrlPolicy.read(py)?)?;
     let configured = settings(&PythonSettings::Http.read(py)?)?
         .with_environment(&|name| std::env::var(name).ok());
     let settings = for_call(configured, call_ssl_verify(kwargs)?, asynchronous)
         .without_missing_files(&|path: &Path| path.exists());
-    HttpClientConfig::resolve(&settings)
-        .map_err(|error| RustBridgeDeclined::new_err(error.to_string()))
+    let resolution = HttpClientConfig::resolve(&settings);
+    for unsupported in unreported(&REPORTED_UNSUPPORTED, resolution.unsupported) {
+        PythonSettings::warn(py, &unsupported.to_string())?;
+    }
+    Ok(resolution.config)
+}
+
+fn unreported(
+    reported: &Mutex<HashSet<Unsupported>>,
+    unsupported: Vec<Unsupported>,
+) -> Vec<Unsupported> {
+    let mut reported = reported.lock().unwrap_or_else(PoisonError::into_inner);
+    unsupported
+        .into_iter()
+        .filter(|unsupported| reported.insert(unsupported.clone()))
+        .collect()
+}
+
+pub(crate) fn url_policy(py: Python<'_>) -> PyResult<UrlPolicy> {
+    let policy: PythonUrlPolicy =
+        PythonSettings::UrlPolicy
+            .read(py)?
+            .extract()
+            .map_err(|error: PyErr| {
+                RustBridgeDeclined::new_err(format!(
+                    "litellm URL policy cannot be used by the Rust route: {error}"
+                ))
+            })?;
+    Ok(UrlPolicy {
+        validate: policy.user_url_validation,
+        allowed_hosts: policy.user_url_allowed_hosts,
+    })
 }
 
 fn call_ssl_verify(kwargs: &Bound<'_, PyDict>) -> PyResult<Option<SslVerify>> {
-    kwargs
+    Ok(kwargs
         .get_item("ssl_verify")?
-        .filter(|value| !value.is_none())
-        .map(|value| ssl_verify(&value, "the ssl_verify argument"))
-        .transpose()
+        .and_then(|value| ssl_verify(&value)))
 }
 
 fn for_call(
@@ -51,35 +80,12 @@ fn for_call(
     }
 }
 
-fn decline_live_client(kwargs: &Bound<'_, PyDict>) -> PyResult<()> {
-    if kwargs
-        .get_item("client")?
-        .is_some_and(|value| !value.is_none())
-    {
-        return Err(RustBridgeDeclined::new_err(
-            "client is a live Python HTTP client and cannot be used by the Rust route",
-        ));
-    }
-    Ok(())
-}
-
 #[derive(FromPyObject)]
 struct PythonUrlPolicy {
     user_url_validation: bool,
     user_url_allowed_hosts: Vec<String>,
 }
 
-fn decline_custom_url_policy(value: &Bound<'_, PyAny>) -> PyResult<()> {
-    match value.extract::<PythonUrlPolicy>() {
-        Ok(policy) if policy.user_url_validation && policy.user_url_allowed_hosts.is_empty() => {
-            Ok(())
-        }
-        Ok(_) | Err(_) => Err(RustBridgeDeclined::new_err(
-            "litellm.user_url_validation / user_url_allowed_hosts are applied by the Python route",
-        )),
-    }
-}
-
 #[derive(FromPyObject)]
 struct PythonHttpSettings<'py> {
     ssl_verify: Bound<'py, PyAny>,
@@ -101,7 +107,7 @@ fn settings(value: &Bound<'_, PyAny>) -> PyResult<HttpSettings> {
         ))
     })?;
     Ok(HttpSettings {
-        ssl_verify: Some(ssl_verify(&python.ssl_verify, "litellm.ssl_verify")?),
+        ssl_verify: ssl_verify(&python.ssl_verify),
         ssl_certificate: python.ssl_certificate.map(PathBuf::from),
         ssl_security_level: python.ssl_security_level,
         ssl_ecdh_curve: python.ssl_ecdh_curve,
@@ -115,20 +121,18 @@ fn settings(value: &Bound<'_, PyAny>) -> PyResult<HttpSettings> {
     })
 }
 
-fn ssl_verify(value: &Bound<'_, PyAny>, source: &str) -> PyResult<SslVerify> {
+fn ssl_verify(value: &Bound<'_, PyAny>) -> Option<SslVerify> {
     if let Ok(enabled) = value.extract::<bool>() {
-        return Ok(if enabled {
+        return Some(if enabled {
             SslVerify::Enabled
         } else {
             SslVerify::Disabled
         });
     }
-    if let Ok(path) = value.extract::<String>() {
-        return Ok(SslVerify::parse(&path));
-    }
-    Err(RustBridgeDeclined::new_err(format!(
-        "{source} is a live Python object and cannot be used by the Rust route"
-    )))
+    value
+        .extract::<String>()
+        .ok()
+        .map(|path| SslVerify::parse(&path))
 }
 
 #[cfg(test)]
@@ -247,50 +251,30 @@ user_agent='litellm/9.9.9',
         Python::initialize();
         Python::attach(|py| {
             let settings = settings(&python_settings(py, overrides)).unwrap();
-            let config = HttpClientConfig::resolve(&settings).unwrap();
+            let config = HttpClientConfig::resolve(&settings).config;
             assert_eq!(config.verify, expected);
         });
     }
 
     #[test]
-    fn ssl_context_global_declines_instead_of_being_dropped() {
+    fn ssl_context_global_is_ignored_so_environment_and_defaults_apply() {
         Python::initialize();
         Python::attach(|py| {
-            let error = settings(&python_settings(py, "ssl_verify=object()")).unwrap_err();
-            assert!(error.is_instance_of::<RustBridgeDeclined>(py));
-            assert!(error.value(py).to_string().contains("litellm.ssl_verify"));
+            let settings = settings(&python_settings(py, "ssl_verify=object()")).unwrap();
+            assert_eq!(settings.ssl_verify, None);
         });
     }
 
-    fn url_policy<'py>(py: Python<'py>, fields: &str) -> Bound<'py, PyAny> {
-        let source = std::ffi::CString::new(format!(
-            "import types\npolicy = types.SimpleNamespace({fields})"
-        ))
-        .unwrap();
-        let locals = PyDict::new(py);
-        py.run(&source, Some(&locals), Some(&locals)).unwrap();
-        locals.get_item("policy").unwrap().unwrap()
-    }
-
     #[test]
-    fn default_url_policy_stays_on_the_rust_route() {
-        Python::initialize();
-        Python::attach(|py| {
-            let policy = url_policy(py, "user_url_validation=True, user_url_allowed_hosts=[]");
-            decline_custom_url_policy(&policy).unwrap();
-        });
-    }
-
-    #[rstest]
-    #[case::validation_off("user_url_validation=False, user_url_allowed_hosts=[]")]
-    #[case::allowlist("user_url_validation=True, user_url_allowed_hosts=['docs.internal']")]
-    #[case::mistyped("user_url_validation=True, user_url_allowed_hosts=None")]
-    fn custom_url_policy_declines_so_python_applies_it(#[case] fields: &str) {
-        Python::initialize();
-        Python::attach(|py| {
-            let error = decline_custom_url_policy(&url_policy(py, fields)).unwrap_err();
-            assert!(error.is_instance_of::<RustBridgeDeclined>(py));
-        });
+    fn unsupported_settings_are_reported_once_per_process() {
+        let reported = Mutex::default();
+        let curve = Unsupported::EcdhCurve("secp521r1".into());
+        let level = Unsupported::SecurityLevel("@SECLEVEL=1".into());
+        assert_eq!(
+            unreported(&reported, vec![curve.clone(), level.clone()]),
+            [curve.clone(), level]
+        );
+        assert_eq!(unreported(&reported, vec![curve]), []);
     }
 
     #[test]
@@ -333,15 +317,19 @@ user_agent='litellm/9.9.9',
     }
 
     #[test]
-    fn live_ssl_context_argument_declines() {
+    fn live_ssl_context_argument_is_ignored_so_the_configured_value_applies() {
         Python::initialize();
         Python::attach(|py| {
             let kwargs = PyDict::new(py);
             kwargs
                 .set_item("ssl_verify", py.eval(c"object()", None, None).unwrap())
                 .unwrap();
-            let error = call_ssl_verify(&kwargs).unwrap_err();
-            assert!(error.is_instance_of::<RustBridgeDeclined>(py));
+            let configured = HttpSettings {
+                ssl_verify: Some(SslVerify::Disabled),
+                ..HttpSettings::default()
+            };
+            let settings = for_call(configured.clone(), call_ssl_verify(&kwargs).unwrap(), true);
+            assert_eq!(settings, configured);
         });
     }
 
@@ -357,33 +345,7 @@ user_agent='litellm/9.9.9',
             ..HttpSettings::default()
         };
         let settings = for_call(opted_out, None, asynchronous);
-        let config = HttpClientConfig::resolve(&settings).unwrap();
+        let config = HttpClientConfig::resolve(&settings).config;
         assert_eq!(config.trust_proxy_env, expected);
     }
-
-    #[test]
-    fn live_python_client_declines_before_dispatch() {
-        Python::initialize();
-        Python::attach(|py| {
-            let kwargs = PyDict::new(py);
-            kwargs
-                .set_item("client", py.eval(c"object()", None, None).unwrap())
-                .unwrap();
-            let error = decline_live_client(&kwargs).unwrap_err();
-            assert!(error.is_instance_of::<RustBridgeDeclined>(py));
-        });
-    }
-
-    #[rstest]
-    #[case::absent_client("{}")]
-    #[case::none_client("{'client': None}")]
-    #[case::proxy_shared_session("{'shared_session': object()}")]
-    fn calls_without_a_python_client_stay_on_the_rust_route(#[case] kwargs: &str) {
-        Python::initialize();
-        Python::attach(|py| {
-            let source = std::ffi::CString::new(kwargs).unwrap();
-            let kwargs = py.eval(&source, None, None).unwrap();
-            decline_live_client(kwargs.cast::<PyDict>().unwrap()).unwrap();
-        });
-    }
 }
diff --git a/litellm-rust/crates/python-bridge/src/python_settings.rs b/litellm-rust/crates/python-bridge/src/python_settings.rs
index b7855566850..79921d67452 100644
--- a/litellm-rust/crates/python-bridge/src/python_settings.rs
+++ b/litellm-rust/crates/python-bridge/src/python_settings.rs
@@ -22,6 +22,11 @@ impl PythonSettings {
     pub(crate) fn read(self, py: Python<'_>) -> PyResult<Bound<'_, PyAny>> {
         py.import(MODULE)?.getattr(self.name())?.call0()
     }
+
+    pub(crate) fn warn(py: Python<'_>, message: &str) -> PyResult<()> {
+        py.import(MODULE)?.getattr("warn")?.call1((message,))?;
+        Ok(())
+    }
 }
 
 #[cfg(test)]
diff --git a/litellm-rust/crates/python-bridge/src/routes/ocr/mod.rs b/litellm-rust/crates/python-bridge/src/routes/ocr/mod.rs
index 174d0ff18c8..f9d7024c824 100644
--- a/litellm-rust/crates/python-bridge/src/routes/ocr/mod.rs
+++ b/litellm-rust/crates/python-bridge/src/routes/ocr/mod.rs
@@ -38,8 +38,13 @@ fn run_ocr(
     asynchronous: bool,
 ) -> PyResult<Py<PyAny>> {
     let config = http::call_config(py, &kwargs, asynchronous)?;
-    let client = OcrClient::new(http::pool(), &config, VERTEX_AUTH.clone())
-        .map_err(|error| RustBridgeDeclined::new_err(error.to_string()))?;
+    let client = OcrClient::new(
+        http::pool(),
+        &config,
+        http::url_policy(py)?,
+        VERTEX_AUTH.clone(),
+    )
+    .map_err(|error| RustBridgeDeclined::new_err(error.to_string()))?;
     run_legacy_call(
         py,
         if asynchronous { ASYNC_SURFACE } else { SURFACE },
diff --git a/litellm/rust_bridge/settings.py b/litellm/rust_bridge/settings.py
index bccfd01ec73..e170f93b198 100644
--- a/litellm/rust_bridge/settings.py
+++ b/litellm/rust_bridge/settings.py
@@ -24,6 +24,12 @@ class UrlPolicy:
     user_url_allowed_hosts: Sequence[str]
 
 
+def warn(message: str) -> None:
+    from litellm._logging import verbose_logger
+
+    verbose_logger.warning("%s", message)
+
+
 def url_policy() -> UrlPolicy:
     import litellm
 
diff --git a/tests/test_litellm/rust_bridge/test_settings.py b/tests/test_litellm/rust_bridge/test_settings.py
index 7e7b1c6743b..f75145c2b2c 100644
--- a/tests/test_litellm/rust_bridge/test_settings.py
+++ b/tests/test_litellm/rust_bridge/test_settings.py
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import dataclasses
+import logging
 from pathlib import Path
 from typing import Final
 
@@ -65,3 +66,10 @@ def test_http_settings_ignores_environment_overrides(monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyP
 
     assert result.user_agent == default_user_agent()
     assert result.ssl_verify is True
+
+
+def test_warn_reaches_the_litellm_logger(caplog: pytest.LogCaptureFixture) -> None:
+    with caplog.at_level(logging.WARNING, logger="LiteLLM"):
+        settings.warn("ssl_ecdh_curve 'secp521r1' is not supported")
+
+    assert [record.getMessage() for record in caplog.records] == ["ssl_ecdh_curve 'secp521r1' is not supported"]