Venezuela’s vice president, industry minister in Russia as regime seeks support
Venezuelan Minister of Industry Tareck El Aissami will meet today in Moscow with representatives of the Russian government.
The meeting will occur alongside a UN Security Council vote today on competing Russian and American draft resolutions on Venezuela. The Russian document, which is unlikely to receive the nine votes necessary to pass the Council, supports a political solution to the crisis and backs the Maduro regime as the legitimate coordinator of international assistance to the country. Contrastingly, the American draft resolution calls for the UN to ensure that there is a free, fair and credible presidential election in Venezuela and that those in need receive unhindered access to international aid. Though it will likely garner enough votes, it will almost certainly draw a veto from Moscow.
With fresh US sanctions levied on PDVSA, Venezuela’s state-owned oil firm and primary source of income, Washington is looking to cut off one of the main cash arteries keeping Maduro afloat. However, continued economic support from China, Turkey and Russia, which will be sought by Mr El Aissami today, is likely to continue, buying Maduro security for the time being.
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