Putin confirms invitation for Venezuelan president to visit Russia in 2024

MOSCOW. Dec 21 (Interfax) - Russian President Vladimir Putin in a phone call with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has confirmed the invitation for the latter to visit Russia, the Kremlin press service said.

"The invitation for the president of Venezuela to visit Russia next year has been confirmed," the Kremlin said in a statement.

During the telephone conversation, the two leaders "exchanged greetings and best wishes ahead of the upcoming New Year and Christmas holidays, and agreed to continue contacts," it said.

Russian presidential aide Yury Ushakov said previously that Maduro's visit to Russia could occur in December this year. But Russian presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov told reporters on December 20 that the date of the visit had yet to be agreed upon, and "this won't necessarily happen before the end of the year." "To be more precise, it would be safe to say now that this won't happen before the end of the year," he said.

"But this visit is on the agenda, and as soon as the dates are agreed on, this visit will take place," Peskov said.