“I spoke with Lula 15 days ago. But I am in regular contact with Celso Amorim and with Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira,” Maduro said during an interview at Miraflores Palace, the seat of the Venezuelan government.

“Presidents Lula, Petro, and Obrador are working together to ensure that Venezuela is respected. So that the United States doesn’t do what it’s doing. They issued a very good communiqué, very good. I congratulate Presidents Petro, López Obrador, and Lula. Thank you very much, on behalf of all of Venezuela.”

Worrying reports of Russian Wagner mercenaries being spotted in Venezuela alongside government forces. Wherever these thugs go, they bring death and destabilization.

This is a clear example of Russia's shameless meddling in other countries' affairs, as well as its usual strategy of sowing chaos around the world.

We see that the people of Venezuela are going through a very difficult time. And the only way out is through peaceful and democratic procedures, not through sending murderers to further exacerbate the situation.

We condemn the use of force against peaceful protesters and urge everyone to respect the people's choice. True leaders don’t hide from their own people behind mercenaries’ backs.