Russia ready to help Venezuela resolve crisis, warns U.S. against meddling

 

FILE PHOTO: Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) meets with his Venezuelan counterpart Nicolas Maduro at the Novo-Ogaryovo state residence outside Moscow, Russia December 5, 2018. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov/File Photo

 

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia said on Tuesday it was ready to facilitate the start of dialogue between Venezuela's government and opposition but warned the United States against intervening in Caracas' internal affairs.

 

Russia has sided with President Nicolas Maduro in his stand-off with opposition leader Juan Guaido. Maduro retains control of state institutions including the military, but most Western countries, including the United States, have recognised Guaido as Venezuela's president.

 

"We have been maintaining very important contacts with the government of this country and stand ready to provide a kind service in order to facilitate the process of finding ways out of the situation," Tass news agency quoted Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov.

 

He also said Russia had made some proposals to Venezuela on settling its crisis but gave no details.

 

Moscow has invested billions of dollars into Venezuela's economy and oil production.

 

On Tuesday opposition supporters returned to the streets nationwide to keep the heat on Maduro and demand that he allow humanitarian aid into Venezuela, where food and medicine shortages are rife.

 

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in a telephone call on Tuesday evening that Washington should avoid any interference, including military, in Venezuela's internal affairs.

 

Lavrov also said Russia was ready for consultations on the situation in Venezuela in line with the United Nations charter.

 

At the United Nations, the United States is pushing the Security Council to formally call for free, fair and credible presidential elections in Venezuela with international observers, diplomats said on Saturday, a move that prompted Russia to propose a rival draft resolution.

 

Russia's U.N. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia described the U.S. draft resolution on Tuesday as "completely unbalanced." When asked if he would put the Russian draft resolution to a vote, he said: "We're just discussing it."

 

It was also unclear if or when the U.S. draft Security Council resolution could be put to a vote. A council resolution needs nine votes and no vetoes by the United States, Britain, France, Russia or China to pass.

 

(Reporting by Vladimir Soldatkin, additional reporting by Michelle Nichols at the United Nations; editing by Gareth Jones and Lisa Shumaker)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2019-02-13

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Russia ready to help Venezuela resolve crisis, warns U.S. against meddling

... but Russia can meddle ?!

1 hour ago, sweatalot said:

... but Russia can meddle ?!

they're warning about meddling with the meddling...

Russia supporting a corrupt "socialist' dictator who resorts to imprisoning opponents or banning them from standing in elections. 

 

Who'd have thought it.

 

Putin knows that militarily and financially he can't compete with the US and it's allies. But he's a good bluffer.

and there you have it...the next battle ground to keep the money go round happening.

Maduro is "in collusion" with Putin.  Perhaps the UN should appoint a Special Prosecutor?

Maduro, such an idiot and totally out of touch with reality. Reminds me of Sadam Husein's mouthpiece spin master spouting drivel about the Iraq Republican Guard's highly successful defense of Iraq against US forces during the 2nd Iraq war. "There is no problem in Venezuela, we don't need any international aid. "

2 hours ago, Baerboxer said:

Russia supporting a corrupt "socialist' dictator who resorts to imprisoning opponents or banning them from standing in elections. 

 

Who'd have thought it.

 

Putin knows that militarily and financially he can't compete with the US and it's allies. But he's a good bluffer.

I'm in agreement with the not competing militarily statement if you're talking conventional warfare. All bets are off with nukes, which in my opinion is the only way a world war fought now would end.

11 hours ago, webfact said:

He also said Russia had made some proposals to Venezuela on settling its crisis but gave no details.

I wonder if that included hints on the use of artillery and multi barrelled rocket launchers in the urban internal security role - a bit like they did in Grozny.

5 hours ago, Baerboxer said:

Russia supporting a corrupt "socialist' dictator who resorts to imprisoning opponents or banning them from standing in elections. 

 

Who'd have thought it.

 

Putin knows that militarily and financially he can't compete with the US and it's allies. But he's a good bluffer.

Unfortunately this is neither military or financial, but rather political..... and I fear that this changes the dynamics in your sentence somewhat, because politically, Putin can compete with the best, and as the toxic swamp draining is just another failed election promise, the best are not what Washington is playing with.

Or Venezuela is the new Cuba?

Do we REALLY believe all these humanitarian concerns are coincidentally directed at the country with the largest oil reserves on the planet?

16 hours ago, wombat said:

and there you have it...the next battle ground to keep the money go round happening.

And perhaps keeping your cars wheels going round and round, not to mention flying...that is if you do either.

A post with foreign language has been removed.   English only on the forum.  

 

Let him warn all he wants. It may be time for the inevitable showdown.

1 hour ago, exparte said:

Let him warn all he wants. It may be time for the inevitable showdown.

I suspect that it's not an idle threat.   There is little question that Putin has damaging information on Trump and that is why he never has a bad word to say about him.   

 

It will be interesting to see how this plays out.   

Putin (and Russia in general) is a paper tiger with very limited global reach. They don't have the sealift capacity or airlift capacity to do much so far from their bases.  All Putin is doing is trying to get a decent deal for his oligarch patrons who invested heavily in Venezuela.

1 hour ago, Credo said:

I suspect that it's not an idle threat.   There is little question that Putin has damaging information on Trump and that is why he never has a bad word to say about him.   

 

It will be interesting to see how this plays out.   

There is little question you have no idea about your claims. Unless you have a verification of what you state.