Putin shares with Maduro assessments of situation surrounding Ukraine, Maduro expresses support for Russia - Kremlin

MOSCOW. March 1 (Interfax) - Russian President Vladimir Putin has spoken with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro over the phone at Venezuela's initiative.

"Vladimir Putin shared his assessments of developments around Ukraine, noting that the goals of the special military operation are to protect civilians in Donbas, Kyiv's recognizing the DPR and LPR [the Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics] and Russia's sovereignty over Crimea, as well as the demilitarization and denazification of the Ukrainian state, and ensuring its neutral and nuclear-free status," the Kremlin press service said.

"Nicolas Maduro expressed a strong support for Russia's decisive actions, condemned the destabilizing activity of the United States and NATO, and stressed the importance of countering the campaign of lies and disinformation launched by Western countries," it said.

"The parties discussed topical issues of further enhancing Russian-Venezuelan strategic partnership, and the implementation of joint projects. The parties agreed to continue the exchange of visits by delegations and contacts at various levels," the statement said.