MOSCOW. March 20 (Interfax) - The issue of the purchase by Russia of oil from Venezuela amid the U.S. sanctions was not discussed in the recent consultations with U.S. officials in Rome, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said on Wednesday.
"No, that issue was not discussed," Ryabkov told Interfax.
"We do not find it justified to address such aspects in such contacts with U.S.," he said.
Russia "takes note of the U.S. ideas on what is happening to the Venezuelan economy," he said.
"There is nothing new in these ideas, they are permanently stated in public. But we did not discuss the specifics of our joint work with the Venezuelans and on the Venezuelan projects today," Ryabkov said.