Washington understands that there can be no military solution to the Venezuela issue because the consequences of such a scenario would be devastating, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said following a meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Michael Pompeo on Monday in Finland.
"Judging by my contacts with my American and other colleagues, including those from Europe and Latin America, I don’t see anyone who would call for a reckless military solution. I hope everyone understands that as far as practical politics is concerned, there can be no military solution because it would mean catastrophe," Lavrov noted. When asked whether U.S. diplomats understood it, he answered in the affirmative.
"We strongly oppose military actions in breach of international law, anywhere," TASS cited him as saying. "Only the United Nations Security Council can authorize the use of force. Besides, it [force] can be used in response to an aggression against a sovereign state. No options concerning Venezuela imply any such thing," the Russian top diplomat said.
Lavrov said following Sunday’s talks with Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza that U.S. President Donald Trump had not announced intentions to launch a military intervention in Venezuela during the May 3 telephone conversation with Russian leader Vladimir Putin.
