Currents News Staff
For the first time in months, President Trump and Russian president Vladimir Putin spoke by phone Friday.
“I had a very good talk with President Putin, probably over an hour,” said Trump of the exchange.
“Venezuela was one of the topics,” he added. “We want to get some humanitarian aid right now. People are starving, they have no water, no food.”
The United Nation’s Human Rights Office says at least five people died in protests this week, as embattled president Nicolás Maduro faces an uprising led by opposition leader Juan Guaidó.
“It is their overarching duty to ensure the protection of the people of Venezuela,” said UN Human Rights Office spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani.
The Venezuelan power struggle is causing tensions between Washington and Moscow. The Kremlin supports Maduro, while the White House recognizes Guaidó as the interim president.
“This is our hemisphere. It’s not where the Russians ought to be interfering,” said National Security Adviser John Bolton, regarding the disagreement on the Venezuelan politicians.
After a Friday meeting of the President’s National Security team at the Pentagon, acting Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan said off-camera that the team is looking at options for U.S. intervention in Venezuela.
When asked if that could include naval deployment, he answered, “all options are comprehensive, but there is a lot of water nearby.”
Meanwhile, opposition leader Juan Guaidó says there will be more protests Saturday, and that they will continue to grow peacefully.