President Vladimir Putin reiterated Russian support for Venezuela’s Nicolas Maduro in a meeting in Moscow yesterday and called for all sides to take part in talks to end the country’s crisis.
“No doubt we support the dialogue that you, Mr President, and your government are having with the opposition forces,” Putin said as he welcomed the leftist leader at the Kremlin.
“We believe that any refusal to have dialogue is irrational, harms the country, and only threatens the population’s well-being.”
Talks between Maduro’s government and self-declared acting president Juan Guaido broke down last month following the imposition of new US sanctions.
Venezuela’s Socialist government resumed talks this month with some minority opposition parties, but only those outside Guaido’s coalition.
Putin — a longtime ally of Venezuela — praised co-operation between the two countries, but the Kremlin said there were no plans to sign any new deals during the visit.
Putin pointed to growing trade turnover which included agricultural supplies to Venezuela where a quarter of the 30mn-strong population is in need of humanitarian aid.
Russia plans to send up to 600,000 tonnes of grain to the crisis-stricken country this year, up from 254,000 tonnes last year, authorities said.
Putin also said his country would send to Venezuela 1.5mn doses of flu vaccine “in the near future”. 
Russia is the second largest lender to Caracas after China, with Moscow heavily investing in Venezuela’s oil resources and Caracas acquiring Russian arms worth billions of dollars.
But Venezuela’s economic collapse has dealt a blow to bilateral ties and Moscow has not provided any fresh loans to Caracas over the past few years.
The South American leader said yesterday’s talks were “very important.” “We have proved that together we can overcome any difficulties,” Maduro said in translated remarks.
Later yesterday, Maduro said on Twitter his meeting with Putin was “positive” and the two countries were “opening new routes to deepen the system of co-operation.”
Maduro said he had given the Russian president a replica of the sword of Venezuelan General Simon Bolivar “in gratitude for his support for Venezuela, and for his respect for the sovereignty and self-determination of peoples.”
Hit by low oil prices, mismanagement and the impact of US sanctions, Venezuela is in free fall and Maduro is seeking support from allies after winning a second term in a controversial vote last year.
Guaido has the political backing of the US and more than 50 countries, but Maduro has so far weathered a failed military rebellion, street protests and a severe economic recession.
A handful of countries led by Russia and China support Maduro. 
Washington, which has imposed an oil embargo on Caracas to undermine Maduro, has called on Moscow to withdraw support for the Venezuelan leader.
Russia has rejected the request, accusing the US of wanting to lead a coup in defiance of international law.
The Venezuelan leader last visited Moscow for talks with Putin in December.
Russia and Venezuela enjoy a long history of ties and Maduro’s predecessor Hugo Chavez, known for his passionate tirades against the US, was a welcome guest at the Kremlin.