Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez blew through Russia on Tuesday, being his usual self, according to our correspondent Megan K. Stack.
Chavez cut some business deals and pumped up the friendship between the two oil-rich nations, while criticizing the United States.
He pressed Prime Minister Vladimir Putin to pay him a visit in Venezuela. He subtly ribbed President Dmitry Medvedev, who has been widely portrayed as Putin's handpicked puppet. And he announced that his country would buy Russian weapons "to guarantee the sovereignty of Venezuela, which is being threatened by the United States."
On Russian visit, Chavez is all business | La Plaza | Los Angeles Times