The Trump administration has charged Russia and Cuba, Maduro’s main backers, with intervening to keep him in power. “The continued insertion of Russian military personnel to support” Maduro “risks prolonging the suffering of the Venezuelan people who overwhelmingly support” Guaidó, the U.S. statement said. The visit was related to military cooperation contracts signed years ago between Russia and Venezuela, said the news agency, Ria Novosti, suggesting it was routine. There have been a number of unconfirmed reports in recent weeks of Russian military and contract soldiers appearing in Venezuela. Flight tracking websites said the planes had taken off from Russian military airports.

Source: National Post March 26, 2019 18:11 UTC