Panorama of Caracas, Venezuela. File photoCARACAS, Jul 9Rapprochement between Russia, Venezuela and other countries suffering from Western sanctions is necessary to counteract the blockade, Venezuelan National Assembly deputy Julio Chavez told RIA Novosti. in order to isolate and block us, from a political and diplomatic point of view, it is right to draw closer,” said Chávez, a member of the ruling United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV). Venezuelan Foreign Minister Carlos Faria, during a recent visit to Russia, stressed the need to further deepen economic relations between the two countries and assured that they are looking for ways to solve problems with payment mechanisms. According to Chavez, the safest way to evade US, Canadian and EU sanctions for countries such as China, Venezuela and Iran is to develop a joint program of action that will mitigate the effects of the blockade. «And Russia, and Venezuela, and China, and other countries send their efforts to strengthen international peace and everything that contributes to peace (…), to establish agreements and alliances in order to optimize alternative financial systems (…) we believe that this should be part of our agenda,» Chávez added. 
Putin announced the failure of the economic blitzkrieg of the WestSince 2017, the United States and its allies have imposed more than 500 sanctions against Venezuela, which are still in effect. Russia has been subjected to sanctions pressure since 2014, and after the start of a special military operation on the territory of Ukraine, it has become the leader in the number of restrictive measures against industries, companies and individuals. In this context, according to the interlocutor of the agency, Venezuela and Russia need to pursue a joint policy to strengthen petrochemical and energy industries, to develop academic, scientific, cultural and medical exchanges. «There are many coincidences between Venezuela and Russia, which today bring us closer to a multipolar, multicentric world, to a common fate and interests, to mutual understanding, to respect for international law. In some way this is facilitated by those who seek to isolate, weaken and kill us,» Chavez said. Putin
