Russian President Vladimir Putin held a phone call with his Venezuelan counterpart Nicolás Maduro today, in which he expressed solidarity with the Venezuelan people and reaffirmed his support for Maduro’s policies, according to a Kremlin readout.

The Kremlin also said that the two leaders expressed an intention to carry out various “joint projects” related to the economy, trade and energy.

CNN has reached out to the Venezuelan government for comment on the call.

More background: Russia and Venezuela have long had close ties, and the phone call comes after the United States seized an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela yesterday, escalating US pressure on Maduro’s regime.

Last week, US President Donald Trump confirmed he had spoken with the Venezuelan leader on the phone.

“I wouldn’t say it went well or badly. It was a phone call,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One when asked whether the call had taken place.