MOSCOW. Dec 12 (Interfax) - Sergei Kobylash, the commander of the Russian Aerospace Forces' long-range aviation, met with the Venezuelan military aviation commanding staff on Tuesday, the Russian Defense Ministry said.
"The participants in the meeting discussed aspects of interaction between flying and engineering-technical staff of the two countries while Russian Aerospace Forces' planes stay at the Maiquetia airport," it said.
The Russian Defense Ministry said on December 10 that two Tupolev Tu-160 strategic bombers, an Antonov An-124 heavy military transport aircraft, and an Ilyushin Il-62 long-range airliner of the Russian Aerospace Forces flew from Russia to the Maiquetia airport in Venezuela.
U.S. media had said earlier citing Pentagon sources that Russia was sending Tu-160s to Venezuela to take part in a series of exercises including, in particular, aerial refueling during a long-range flight.
This is the third visit of Tu-160 bombers to Venezuela. The previous two took place in 2008 and 2013. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said several days ago that Russian warplanes would continue flying to Venezuelan airfields and Russian naval vessels would keep calling at that country's ports.