Putin to Receive Maduro as Pressure Mounts for Venezuelan Ruler to Quit

HAVANA TIMES – Russian President Vladimir Putin will meet with his Venezuelan counterpart Nicolas Maduro on Wednesday in Moscow, the Kremlin has confirmed, amid mounting pressure for Maduro to resign, reports dpa news.

The announcement comes after the Organization of American States, which comprises all countries of North and South America, including Venezuela, adopted a resolution on Monday condemning Maduro’s government as an “illegitimate regime.”

The resolution sought to single out Maduro’s associates who are suspected of committing actions that violate international law.

Shortly after the resolution was passed, Maduro tweeted Monday that he was going to Russia on an official visit to “look for new ways that intensify cooperation.”

Confirming the meeting, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the leaders planned to discuss the issue of “direct foreign interference in the [South American] region’s affairs,” according to comments carried by Russian state news agency TASS.

Venezuela’s oil-dependent economy has faced food and medicine shortages and teetered on the brink of collapse, inciting mass protests against Maduro and prompting opposition leader Juan Guaido to declare himself interim president earlier this year.

The United States and a number of other western nations have condemned Maduro and backed his political rival Guaido.

Russia, one of the crisis-hit Venezuelan government’s strongest backers, expressed support earlier this month for Maduro’s efforts to counter “attempts by the United States to change the legally elected government.”

Russian defense specialists have conducted at least two publicized visits to Venezuela this year as the countries maintain close military ties.