MOSCOW, December 21. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin has invited his Venezuelan counterpart Nicolas Maduro to visit Russia next year, the Kremlin press service said.

"The invitation to the Venezuelan president to visit Russia next year has been confirmed," the statement said.

Maduro's visit to Russia was expected to take place in December, Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov and Venezuelan Ambassador to Russia Jesus Rafael Salazar Velasquez reported.

Earlier, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that the dates of the visit are being agreed upon, but "we can say that it will not take place before the end of the year." The Kremlin spokesman pointed out that "this visit is on the agenda". According to Venezuela's ambassador to Russia, Maduro plans to discuss with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin the cooperation between the two countries, which includes 15 different areas.