Russian President Vladimir Putin told his Venezuelan counterpart, Nicolas Maduro, in talks in Moscow on Wednesday that Russia supported dialogue between the government and opposition to find a way out of Venezuela's political crisis. 

Venezuela's opposition said earlier this month that a dialogue mediated by Norway to try to resolve the crisis in Venezuela had ended, six weeks after Maduro's government suspended its participation. 

"Of course, we support the dialogue that you, Mr. President and your government, are conducting with opposition forces," Putin told Maduro.

"We believe that any refusal to have dialogue is irrational, harms the country, and only threatens the population's well-being," Putin said.

He also praised the growing cooperation between the two countries, adding that Russia planned to send to Venezuela 1.5 million doses of flu vaccine "in the near future."

Maduro also praised bilateral cooperation. "Together, we can overcome any difficulties," he said.

Maduro's representatives walked away from the table in August to protest against U.S. President Donald Trump's tightening sanctions on the OPEC nation. 

Washington has imposed an oil embargo on Caracas and has repeatedly called on Moscow to withdraw support for the Venezuelan leader.  

Russia has rejected the request, accusing the U.S. of wanting to lead a coup in defiance of international law.   

Russia and Venezuela enjoy a long history of ties and Maduro's last visit to the country was in December. 

(Cover: Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) and Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro attend a meeting at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, September 25, 2019. /Reuters Photo)

(With input from Reuters, AFP)