Putin vows more arms for Venezuela

CARACAS, Venezuela, April 3 (UPI) -- Russia has agreed to help Venezuela develop a space program and a nuclear power plant, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez says.

Russia will keep delivering military equipment to Venezuela, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said in Caracas Saturday, RIA Novosti reported.

"We will continue to support the development of the armed forces of Venezuela," Putin said at a joint news conference with Chavez. "As you know, Russia has already delivered the most efficient Su-30 heavy fighters and other military equipment to Venezuela."

Putin arrived in Venezuela Friday for talks on a range of issues, Novosti said. The Russian prime minister said his country was ready to grant Venezuela a $2.2 billion loan. Chavez had requested aid during his visit to Moscow last year.

Part of the loan could be used to buy more than 90 T-72 tanks and an unnamed number of Smerch multiple rocket launchers, or even diesel-powered submarines and S-300 air defense systems, Novosti said.

Chavez says Venezuela needs to boost its defenses to protect its oil fields from a possible U.S. attack.