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BARVIKHA, Russia - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez gave Moscow a boost Thursday by recognizing the independence of two Russian-supported Georgian separatist regions, and President Dmitry Medvedev promised to sell Chavez whatever weapons he wants.
The statements - offered at a meeting in Medvedev's residence just outside Moscow - demonstrate a growing closeness between the two countries that Russia has sought to expand its global clout and counter U.S. influence in Latin America.
Russia recognized South Ossetia and Abkhazia shortly after its troops drove Georgian forces from the regions in a brief war last year. Only Nicaragua had followed suit in acknowledging the regions' independence - a tacit slap by the international community and an embarrassment to Moscow's contentions that it was bringing stability to the regions rather than occupying them.
Russia has thousands of troops stationed in the regions.
"We will soon begin actions to establish diplomatic relations with these countries," Chavez said at the opening of the meeting Thursday.
Chavez' discussions with Medvedev, and later with Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, had also been expected to touch on weapons and energy deals. Medvedev said any new weapons deals would not be made public.
Russian media have said Chavez would be looking to finalize the purchase of tanks, aircraft, guns - and possibly even submarines. The RIA-Novosti news agency said a $500 million contract for 100 T-72 and T-90 tanks would be signed during Chavez' visit.
"We will supply Venezuela the weapons that Venezuela asks for. In accordance with all international law, of course," Medvedev said. "If our friends want our tanks, we will deliver them."
Chavez denied that Venezuela's interest in Russian weapons was part of an arms race, and suggested his country wants to stand up to Washington.
"Previously we were in slavery thanks to the actions of the Yankee empire, and now what we're doing is increasing our military potential," he said. "A blockade is closing in around us."
Medvedev thanked Chavez for his move on South Ossetia and Abkhazia.
"Russia has always had a simple position - we think that it is a country's sovereign right whether to recognize or not recognize new subjects of international law. But of course, we are not indifferent to the fate of these two states."
Putin said after meeting Chavez later Thursday that Venezuela's recognition of the provinces helped toward realizing Russia's goal of "making international relations more democratic."
"This step underlines the independent character of Venezuela's foreign policy," Putin said.
Speaking on energy, Putin and Chavez noted it had been difficult to reach a project agreement on developing an oil field in Venezuela's Orinoco River Basin. A Russian consortium including oil majors Lukoil and TNK-BP is teaming up with Venezuelan national oil company Petroleos to develop what has been recognized as the world's single-largest oil deposit, potentially holding 1.2 trillion barrels of extra-heavy crude.
"The project in the Orinoco river basin is a mega project," Chavez said. "The importance of this agreement is hard to overestimate."
Chavez lavished praise on Putin, telling him at the end of their meeting: "You have become even younger. You are always dynamic. Together with Dmitry (Medvedev), our brother and friend and president, you are holding the reins of power in our beloved Russia."
It was Chavez' eighth visit to Russia, and he was visibly comfortable and at times jocular with both Putin and Medvedev.
Medvedev earlier Thursday complimented Chavez on his physique, and the nine-nation trip he is currently on.
"President Chavez appears to be in fine physical form even after such a long tour. He's always energetic. He's always joking," Medvedev said grinning.
Georgia's government, meanwhile, dismissed Chavez's announcement.
"Recognition of the separatist regimes of Abkhazia and South Ossetia is a crystallization process and separates normal countries and renegade countries into different sides," Georgian Cabinet minister Temur Yakobashvili said.
Abkhazia and South Ossetia broke off from Georgia in wars in the mid-1990s, but Georgia kept peacekeeping troops in South Ossetia and held a small section of Abkhazia. Those forces were driven out during the five-day war with Russia in August 2008. Russia says the war started with a Georgian artillery assault on South Ossetia's capital, while Georgia says it launched the assault to deter a Russian military incursion into the region.
Abkhazian leader Sergei Bagapsh said Venezuela's recognition would "help to solidify our nation's long-term success."
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Associated Press writers Vladimir Isachenkov in Novo-Ogaryovo, Russia, and Misha Dzhindzhikhashvili in Tbilisi, Georgia, contributed to this report.
