Source: Sputnik Mundo
What it’s about: The Sputnik article, which runs as Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro visits Moscow, details the two authoritarian leaders’ preference for a “peaceful” resolution to the Venezuelan crisis. The main source for the article is quotes from Yuri Ushakov, a foreign affairs advisor to Vladimir Putin. Ushakov relayed that Maduro and Putin discussed economic, military, and strategic collaboration, as well as Maduro’s and Putin’s shared preference for a “peaceful” resolution to the ongoing crisis in the country. Finally, Ushakov emphasized that “any outside pressure on Maduro’s government is counterproductive.”
Why it’s misleading: There’s a lot to unpack with this one, but let’s just start with the obvious: Nicolás Maduro is in favor of a peaceful resolution to the Venezuela crisis if and only if said solution guarantees that he will remain in power. Earlier this year, Maduro moved presidential elections to bolster his chances and banned formidable opponents, strengthening his grip on power. He’s also defanged the opposition-controlled National Assembly and jailed political opponents.
Furthermore, any “peaceful” solution favored by the likes of Maduro and Putin is unlikely to help the millions of Venezuelans struggling under Maudro’s watch, which we’ve covered ad nauseam on this page. Without the spurned international moderation (see above), the country’s future, unfortunately, seems increasingly bleak.