TODAY: Oil production at post-Soviet high amidst talk of cooperation with OPEC; Venezuelan Oil Minister’s visit yields no agreements to cut production; Kremlin’s purchases 40% more expensive thanks to protectionism; Putin supports Medvedev’s government consolidation plan; oligarchs likely to take privatised stakes; flu epidemic spreads; EU ambassador demands Kremlin response to Kadyrov threat; Merkel says Ukraine fighting needs Putin influence.