Russia FM urges US to 'abandon its irresponsible plans' on Venezuela

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Sunday the Kremlin has condemned Washington's so-called campaign to overthrow Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, urging the United States to cancel its "irresponsible" plans.

Meeting with his Venezuelan counterpart Jorge Arreaza, the senior diplomat was requested to call on U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to realize that dialogue is the only solution to the Venezuelan crisis during their upcoming meeting in Finland.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (R) and Venezuela's Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza shake hands as they give a press conference in Moscow on May 5, 2019. [Photo: AFP]

Many nations and international organizations have called for a peaceful settlement of the Venezuelan crisis after a failed coup attempt initiated by opposition leader Juan Guaido on April 30 and some expressed support for Maduro.

"We reaffirmed solidarity with the friendly people of Venezuela and support for the legitimate president elected by the Venezuelan people on May 20, 2018," Lavrov said Sunday, adding that Russia is ready to join possible efforts of international and regional mediators like the "Montevideo mechanism," which was jointly proposed by Mexico and Uruguay and backed by other countries.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan condemned the coup bid, saying "those who attempt to appoint a postmodern colonial governor to Venezuela, where the people are sovereign and where the president comes through elections, should know only democratic elections determined the way to govern the country."

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obador also said that his country will adhere to its constitution and the principles of non-intervention, self-determination of the people and peaceful settlement.

United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called Tuesday for "maximum restrain" in Venezuela to avoid violence and restore calm, his spokesman said in a daily briefing.

China's Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lu Kang told a press briefing last month that "the Venezuelan affairs should be determined independently by its people. The government and the opposition need to seek a political settlement through peaceful dialogue under the framework of the Constitution as soon as possible."

Despite the calls for peaceful settlement, Pompeo said Wednesday that Washington will further raise costs for Cuba and Russia because of their support for Maduro -- a remark following U.S. President Donald Trump's tweets urging Cuba to cease its operations in Venezuela in a bid to save itself from "a full and complete embargo" and "highest-level sanctions."

Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez tweeted in response that "I strongly reject Trump's total blockade threat."

The Russian Foreign Ministry also said in a statement on the same day that Lavrov had warned of the "gravest consequences" of "aggressive steps" against Caracas in a call with Pompeo.

Meanwhile, U.S. media reported that the White House has not reached a consensus on whether to engage in military intervention in Venezuela to support Guaido.

Pompeo told financial news channel Fox Business on Wednesday that a peaceful solution was still desired but that "military action is possible."

Moreover, as U.S. National Security Advisor John Bolton has pushed for a more aggressive policy on Venezuela, he "has angered some within and outside the White House," according to a report of the Washington Post.

Washington has been pursuing a policy of economic sanctions and diplomatic isolation against the Venezuelan government. It recognized Guaido as the nation's "interim president" on Jan. 23, days after Maduro was inaugurated for a second term.

Amid the ongoing power struggle between the ruling socialist party and the U.S.-backed right-wing opposition, ordinary Venezuelans are finding it increasingly hard to get on with their lives.