Russian President Vladimir Putin is 'the best thing we can have at the moment', Riga mayor Nils Usakovs has claimed during a working visit to Moscow.

Usakovs is in Moscow to help reinstate Latvian products on supermarket shelves after Russia imposed sanctions on Western products last month.

"Our moods differ. Latvian residents are extremely polar in regard to what is going on in Ukraine," Usakovs told Russian TV Dozhd.

However, according to the mayor Putin has helped bring stability to neighboring states with Russia.

"President Vladimir Putin is the best thing we can have at the moment. Otherwise, [Alexei] Navalny would have come to power," Usakovs explained.

"If Russia had any other president instead of Putin, they would not bring stability to the neighboring states."

Usakovs is visiting Moscow until September 6 to meet with Russian and Moscow officials, as well as representatives of chain stores in Moscow.