Kremlin not surprised by Venezuelan opposition leader’s contacts with Trump
News Line
Ukraine reports 5,276 new COVID-19 cases Zelensky: Every third Ukrainian considers road construction one of greatest achievements of 2021 Ukraine ready to implement Minsk agreements, but Russia's desire needed - Yermak Michel: EU unanimously agree to roll over economic sanctions against Russia Actions by Ukraine's partners will help prevent worst-case scenario - Zelensky COVID-19 in Ukraine: Health officials confirm 8,899 daily cases as of Dec 17 Macron tells Zelensky he declared support for Ukraine in call with Putin Zelensky, Scholz discuss gas transit through Ukraine after 2024 Ukraine ready for any format of talks with Russia - Zelensky Ukraine’s only journalist in Russia facing extremism charges - lawyer PM Shmyhal: First two applications for investment projects worth $96 million filed Zelensky, PM of Italy discuss security situation around Ukraine President signs off State Budget 2022 London considering all options for responding to Russia's aggression against Ukraine Putin, Biden to hold another round of talks Some 260,000 Ukrainians “victims of human trafficking” over 30 years - prosecutor general Ukraine plans to create center to protect energy infrastructure from cyber attacks No clear idea so far when Normandy Four top diplomats set to meet - German Ambassador Ukraine receives EUR 600M in macro-financial assistance from EU Zelensky holds phone conversation with PM of Israel Ukraine sets new daily COVID vaccination record MFA: European Union has not yet removed Ukraine from list of safe countries Kyiv records 1,023 new COVID-19 cases, 29 deaths G7 ambassadors welcome adoption of law on NABU status Ukraine can increase Covid vaccination rates to 1.5M a week – Liashko

The Kremlin is not surprised by the reports of a talk held by Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido with US President Donald Trump, Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Tuesday.

"Considering that he [Guaido] is and was, before the start of the events, in constant contact with Washington, there is nothing surprising in that," Peskov said, responding to a journalists’ question about how the Kremlin assessed the contact of the Venezuelan opposition leader with the US president.

Guaido earlier said in an interview with CNN that he "talked with the US president, and also with the presidents of other countries of the region and the world."

The Wall Street Journal reported on January 26 that Guaido proclaimed himself as the interim president of Venezuela after a phone call by US Vice-President Mike Pence who assured him of Washington’s support.

Juan Guaido, Venezuelan opposition leader and parliament speaker, whose appointment to that position had been cancelled by the country’s Supreme Court, declared himself interim president at a rally in the country’s capital of Caracas on January 23. On the same day, the United States recognized Guaido as the interim leader of Venezuela.

Incumbent Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro blasted the move as a coup staged by Washington and said he was severing diplomatic ties with the US.

Several countries, including the United States, Lima Group members except Mexico, Australia, Albania, Georgia and Israel, as well as the Organization of American States, recognized Guaido as the interim president of Venezuela.

Meanwhile, Spain, France, Germany, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands stated that they would recognize Guaido as the interim president, unless Maduro announced new elections by February 3.

Russia, Belarus, Bolivia, Iran, Cuba, Nicaragua, El Salvador and Turkey voiced support for Maduro, while China called for resolving all differences peacefully and warned against foreign interference. The United Nations secretary general, in turn, called for dialogue to resolve the crisis.