Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Venezuelan counterpart Nicolas Maduro will meet to sign a strategic partnership agreement, amid Russia's deteriorating relations with the West

<p>The Kremlin has announced a meeting between Vladimir Putin and Nicolas Maduro, the president of Venezuela, where they will sign a 'weighty and substantial' agreement. This comes amid Russia's deteriorating relations with Western countries over the conflict in Ukraine, as Moscow seeks to strengthen ties with states that share similar goals. In addition, Venezuela is poised to become the world's biggest oil producer per capita, despite tensions with Guyana. Xi Jinping will also visit Russia to strengthen the alliance with Putin.