Politics 10:59 28/03/2019 World

Trump tells Russia to get its troops out of Venezuela

U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday called on Russia to pull its troops from Venezuela and said that “all options” were open to make that happen, Reuters reports.

The arrival of two Russian air force planes outside Caracas on Saturday believed to be carrying nearly 100 Russian special forces and cybersecurity personnel has escalated the political crisis in Venezuela.

Russia and China have backed President Nicolas Maduro, while the United States and most other Western countries support opposition leader Juan Guaido. In January, Guaido invoked the constitution to assume Venezuela’s interim presidency, arguing that Maduro’s 2018 re-election was illegitimate.

“Russia has to get out,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office, where he met with Guaido’s wife, Fabiana Rosales.

Asked how he would make Russian forces leave, Trump said: “We’ll see. All options are open.”

Maduro, who retains control of state functions and the country’s military, has said Guaido is a puppet of the United States.

Russia has bilateral relations and agreements with Venezuela and Maduro that it plans to honor, Russia’s deputy U.N. ambassador, Dmitry Polyanskiy, said on Twitter.

A spokeswoman for Russia’s Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, said the United States should pull troops from Syria before telling Moscow to withdraw from Venezuela.

“Before giving advice to somebody to withdraw from somewhere, the United States should bring to life its own concept of exodus, particularly from Syria,” Zakharova said, speaking on Russia’s state Channel One, TASS agency quoted her as saying.

Venezuela’s economy is in tatters with food and medicine in short supply due to years of hyperinflation. In addition, citizens are now grappling with power blackouts that experts have blamed on years of neglect and maintenance.

Earlier this year, the Trump administration slapped sanctions on state-owned oil company Petroleos de Venezuela, known as PDVSA, to try to cut off revenues to Maduro. Oil provides 90 percent of export revenue for Venezuela, an OPEC member. Trump has said tougher sanctions are still to come.



Source Panorama.am
Share |
Տեքստում սխալ կամ վրիպակ նկատելու դեպքում, ուղարկեք խմբագրին հաղորդագրություն` նշելով տվյալ սխալը, այնուհետև սեղմելով Ctrl-Enter:

Newsfeed

11:23
Hotel fire at Turkey ski resort kills at least 10
A fire broke out at a hotel at a ski resort in northwestern Turkey on Tuesday, killing at least at least 10 people and hospitalizing 32 others,...
11:06
EU delegation briefed about situation on Armenian-Azeri border
The EU Mission in Armenia (EUMA) hosted EU Ambassador to Armenia Vassilis Maragos last week. "The EU delegation was briefed about the...
17:00
Armenian FM to travel to Moscow
Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan will pay a working visit to Moscow on January 21, his ministry reports. During the...
16:30
37 police officers sacked in Armenia last year
43 police officers in Armenia faced disciplinary action In 2024. Among them, 3 officers received a reprimand, 3 were issued a severe...
16:14
Armenia's Parakar to hold snap elections in March
The Central Electoral Commission has set March 30 as the date for snap elections in Armenia’s Parakar community. On January 16, the...
15:45
Armine Kheranyan named new opposition MP
Armine Kheranyan has been named replacement of opposition Hayastan faction MP Mher Sahakyan, who tragically died in a car crash last week....
15:27
MP Levon Kocharyan urges strong pressure on Baku to release Armenian prisoners
MP Levon Kocharyan of the opposition Hatasyan faction stressed the need to raise awareness about the ongoing sham trials of Artsakh's...
14:36
Opposition MP pins unified map of Armenia and Artsakh to parliament rostrum
At a session of the Armenian National Assembly on Monday, Anna Mkrtchyan, an MP from the opposition Pativ Unem faction, criticized the map of...
14:21
January 20 a 'historic day' for the US, Armenian expert says
January 20 is a “historic day” for the United States as President-elect Donald Trump will officially assume office,...
13:45
Georgia signals willingness to revive relations with US under Trump
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has expressed his country’s willingness to revive relations with the United States after US...
13:34
Armenian defense minister's grandfather dies
Armenian Defense Minister Suren Papikyan's grandfather passed away, the ministry spokesperson reported on Sunday. The old man,...
13:06
Ex-prosecutor in Robert Kocharyan's case quits Investigative Committee
Petros Petrosyan, a prosecutors in the case against Armenia’s second President Robert Kocharyan and others, has resigned as head of the...
12:30
Bitcoin hits new all-time high
Bitcoin hit a record high above $109,000 on Monday as Donald Trump, who has signalled plans to deregulate the cryptocurrency sector, prepares to...
12:15
Armenian students win 17 medals at International Zhautykov Olympiad
The 21st International Zhautykov Olympiad in Mathematics, Physics and Computer Science was held in Astana, Kazakhstan, on January 13-17....
11:57
Armenian MPs hold a minute's silence for deceased colleague
A regular session of the Armenian parliament began with a choir performing a modified version of the national anthem. Lawmakers then...
11:35
Two injured in single-car crash in Armenia’s Ararat
A single-vehicle crash in Armenia’s Ararat Province left two people injured and hospitalized last night. The...
11:12
MP urges action to secure release of Armenian prisoners held in Baku
Non-partisan MP Taguhi Tovmasyan has urged the international community to advocate for the open trial of Artsakh leaders in Azerbaijan...
17:00
Levon Aronian condemns Ruben Vardanyan's sham trial in Azerbaijan
Chess star Levon Aronian has condemned former Artsakh State Minister Ruben Vardanyan's sham trial in Azerbaijan. "I know...
16:32
World-famous cellist Alban Gerhardt to perform in Yerevan
World-renowned cellist Alban Gerhardt will perform in Yerevan in late January, the Yerevan Municipality reports. The exclusive concert...
16:06
Opposition MP: 'Trials' of Armenian prisoners in Baku deal a direct blow to Pashinyan
Despite the Armenian leadership's “clear willingness to meet Baku’s demands”, the trial of Armenian prisoners that...
15:30
HRW reports four femicides in Armenia in one year
Armenia's authorities investigated 1,535 criminal domestic violence complaints through June 2024, a significant increase over the 484...
15:00
Drivers warned of icy roads in some parts of Armenia
The Rescue Service has warned drivers about a road closure and icy conditions in Armenia. In particular, the road linking the Amberd...
14:30
Pablo Santos leaves Noah
Defender Pablo Santos has left FC Noah. "Central defender Pablo Santos concludes his journey with our team," the club...
14:15
Azerbaijan must ensure fair trial rights of Ruben Vardanyan – Amnesty International
Reacting to the start of a trial of Ruben Vardanyan, a former de facto State Minister in Nagorno-Karabakh, Marie Struthers, Amnesty...
14:00
Government mum on Pashinyan's participation in Trump's inauguration
The Armenian government has not yet revealed whether Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan will attend the inauguration of U.S. President-elect Donald...
13:30
Australian Open: Khachanov loses to Michelsen
American Alex Michelsen won against Russian Karen Khachanov, the No 19 seed, 6-3, 7-6 (5), 6-2 to advance to the last 16 of the Australian Open...
13:01
EUMA hosts ambassadors from 22 EU nations
The European Union Mission in Armenia (EUMA) on Friday hosted ambassadors from 22 EU nations to Armenia to give them overview...
12:36
Nicolas Aznavour urges collective action for Ruben Vardanyan's release
Nicolas Aznavour, co-founder and chairman of the Aznavour Foundation, has called for collective action to secure the release...
12:09
Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan on a trip to Iran
Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan, who is currently on a visit to Iran, on Friday met with Archbishop Sepuh Sargsyan, Primate of the Armenian Diocese...
11:59
Arman Tsarukyan issues first statement after UFC 311 dropout
Arman Tsarukyan is understandably devastated after having to withdraw from his first UFC championship fight, MMA Junkie reports. UFC...

Follow us and get updates!

Most popular articles

{"core.blocks.header.spell_message1":"Selected mistake: ","core.blocks.header.spell_message2":"Send a message about the mistake?"}