Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro gives a speech at a meeting with members of the National Bolivarian Armed Forces at Miraflores Presidential Palace in Caracas, Venezuela on Monday. Photo: AFP

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro of Venezuela criticized Wednesday the barrage of Western sanctions slapped on Russia, bucking the global chorus of condemnation of its war with Ukraine.

"What they are doing against the Russian people is a crime, an economic war," Maduro said as he reiterated support for President Vladimir Putin in what Maduro called the "conflict with Ukraine."

Maduro noted that some Russian banks have been removed from the SWIFT international bank messaging system and that many countries have barred Russian carriers from their airspace, among other forms of punishment for the conflict with Russia's pro-Western neighbor.

"What they are doing with Russia is madness," Maduro said at a televised event.

Russia is a key ally of Maduro's leftist government, which has presided over the economic collapse of the oil-rich nation and is itself under Western sanctions aimed at forcing Maduro from power.

In his remarks Wednesday, Maduro abstained from criticizing Russia.

"Economic wars must end," he said. 

"The world's problems must be resolved via the diplomatic, political route. World peace must be preserved," said Maduro.

Maduro spoke with Putin on Tuesday and expressed "strong support" for Russia's stance on the conflict, according to a Kremlin statement.

Venezuela, along with Cuba and Nicaragua - all targets of US sanctions - are Latin American allies of Moscow.

AFP