RUSSIA/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT/VENEZUELA: “Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday [1-24-19] warned against ‘destructive interference’ in Venezuela from outside forces and called President Nicolas Maduro to reaffirm Moscow’s support for the embattled leader – one day after the Trump administration declared Maduro’s presidency illegitimate. Putin’s phone call to Maduro was a rebuke to President Donald Trump’s efforts to undercut the Venezuelan president. A senior Russian official said military intervention in Venezuela would create a ‘catastrophic scenario’ in the region…In his phone call with Maduro, Putin “stressed that destructive outside interference grossly violated the fundamental norms of international law,” according to a report from Russia’s state-owned media outlet Tass…When asked whether the United States was considering military action, Trump said, ‘We’re not considering anything, but all options (are) on the table.’ Other administration officials emphasized using economic sanctions, not military force.”
–Deirdre Shesgreen, “Putin warns against ‘destructive interference’ in Venezuela after Trump recognizes Juan Guaido,” USA Today, January 24, 2019 8:59 pm