Vladimir Putin calls for dialogue between Venezuela’s Maduro and the opposition

In a meeting at the Kremlin, the Russian president said the leader of the South American nation should be open to dialogue with his critics

Russia plans to send up to 600,000 tonnes of grain to Venezuela this year and 1.5 million doses of flu vaccine ‘in the near future’

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Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, shakes hands with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. Photo: EPA

Published: 8:38pm, 25 Sep 2019Updated: 8:38pm, 25 Sep 2019

Russian President Vladimir Putin told Venezuela’s Nicolas Maduro on Wednesday he supported talks between the embattled leader and the opposition, warning that refusing dialogue could further threaten the crisis-wracked country.

Welcoming the leftist leader at the Kremlin, Putin reiterated support for Maduro but also indicated the Venezuelan president should be open to dialogue with his critics.

“No doubt we support the dialogue that you, Mr President, and your government are having with the opposition forces,” Putin said.

“We believe that any refusal to have dialogue is irrational, harms the country, and only threatens the population’s well-being.”

Maduro listens at the meeting with Putin in Moscow. Photo: EPA

While Putin praised cooperation between the two countries, there were no plans to sign any new deals during Maduro’s visit, the Kremlin has said.

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