Kyiv on edge after Medvedev reacts to US Venezuela operation
Photo: Dmitry Medvedev (Getty Images)
The US military operation in Venezuela sparked a sharp reaction from Russian officials. Their statements criticized Washington and included cynical remarks about Ukraine, according to Russian media reports.
Deputy Chairman of Russia’s Security Council Dmitry Medvedev commented on the events in Venezuela with clear irony, calling the actions of the US military a wonderful example of peacekeeping.
He stated: "A harsh military operation in an independent country that posed no threat to the US. The capture of a legally elected president and his wife by special forces. Of course, all strictly within international law and national legislation, with the approval of Congress."
Attacks on Ukraine
In his comments, Medvedev did not limit himself to criticizing the US. He cynically suggested that American forces should have targeted a different country, saying it would not have been bad if Washington had attacked military bases in Ukraine.
In this way, the Russian official once again used an international incident to make a political statement aimed at Kyiv.
Arguments about power and nuclear weapons
Beyond his attacks on Ukraine and the US, Medvedev stressed that the only guarantee of a state’s protection from external interference is the possession of weapons of mass destruction.
"The operation in Caracas is the best proof that any state must strengthen its armed forces to the maximum, not allowing various rich audacious actors to easily change the constitutional order in search of oil or something else," he added.
According to the Russian official, it is precisely the possession of nuclear weapons that provides maximum protection against such scenarios, reflecting Moscow’s reliance on nuclear deterrence and coercion in international politics.
On January 3, the US conducted a large-scale operation in Venezuela, resulting in the detention of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife and their removal from the country.
Following the capture of Maduro and his wife by US forces, the situation in Venezuela could develop along three scenarios: a constitutional transfer of power, a military coup, or a complete collapse of the regime. According to the constitution, powers would pass to Vice President Delcy Rodríguez, who has already stated that the government has no information about the whereabouts of Maduro and his wife.
