Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduroexpressed on Tuesday his “strong support” for the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, during a phone call six days after the Russian invasion of Ukrainethe Kremlin told reporters.
“Nicolás Maduro expressed his strong support for Russia’s key actions, condemning the destabilizing activity of the United States and NATOand emphasizing the importance of combating the campaign of lies and disinformation released by western countries“, indicates the statement of the Russian office after the call made by “initiative of the Venezuelan side”.
Putin meanwhile, “shared his view of the situation regarding Ukraineemphasizing that the objectives of the special military operation were protect the civilian population of Donbass“, pro-Russian separatist territories in eastern Ukraine, as well as “as Russian sovereignty over Crimea, demilitarization and denazification of the Ukrainian state and the guarantee of its neutral and non-nuclear status”.
On the eve of the Russian military onslaught against Ukraine, Maduro expressed his support for the Russian government, a key ally of his administration torpedoed by US sanctions that they seek to force him out of power by considering that his re-election in 2018 was “fraudulent”.
The Russian-Venezuelan relationship dates back to the time of the deceased President Hugo Chavez, who backed Russia during the blitzkrieg with Georgia in August 2008 for control of South Ossetia. After the conflict, Moscow recognized the independence of this province and that of Abkhaziaanother pro-Russian breakaway Georgian region.
Chávez (1999-2013) also bought Russian weapons and military equipment for hundreds of millions of dollars in the midst of an oil boom that ended in 2014.
“Venezuela announces its full support for President Vladimir Putin in defense of peace in Russia, in defense of peace in that region, in brave defense, all support for Russia!” Maduro said after receiving on February 16 in Caracas Russian Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Borisov.
Weeks ago, already with the tension installed on the border with Ukraine, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoiguan eventual military deployment in Venezuela and Cubasomething that was never made official.
