
Maria Zakharova with a caption of her recent statement on Guaido and Tikhanovskaya. Photo: Russia's MFA.

Orinoco Tribune – News and opinion pieces about Venezuela and beyond
From Venezuela and made by Venezuelan Chavistas

Maria Zakharova with a caption of her recent statement on Guaido and Tikhanovskaya. Photo: Russia's MFA.
Caracas, January 12, 2022 (OrinocoTribune.com)—The spokesperson for the Russian Federation’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, MarĂa Zakharova, urged the United States to reduce its military presence in Europe, and to stop financing both Venezuela’s far-right opposition led by Juan GuaidĂł, and his Belarusian counterpart Svetlana Tikhanovskaya. Instead, said Zakharova, the US should use those assets to solve the country’s abundant internal problems.
“The US would be able to find enough money to solve its problems, if it reduces the military presence in Europe, or stops allocating billions of dollars to support impostors like Juan GuaidĂł,” Zakharova said.
The statements from the Russian spokesperson came in response to typical US interventionist statements issued by US Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs, Victoria Nuland, about how Russia should invest its resources. “The wealth of Russia, were I a Russian citizen, I would want to see applied to the healthcare system, to the education system, to the roads… rather than hemorrhaging money on a created crisis and putting their own military out there in the snow,” wrote Nuland. Perhaps she was not aware that the US remains the only developed country without a universal healthcare system.
RELATED CONTENT: Alicia Jrapko Presente
#OpiniĂłn de MarĂa Zajárova:
❗️ EEUU podrá encontrar suficiente dinero para resolver sus problemas [internos], si reduce la presencia militar en Europa o deja de asignar miles de millones de dólares para apoyar a los impostores como @jguaido.
đź”— https://t.co/IIB6DRS5sG pic.twitter.com/kRYkCz5Y38
— CancillerĂa de Rusia 🇷🇺 (@mae_rusia) January 12, 2022
“Victoria, continue to be a US citizen, and think about the same things, but in relation to your country that faces a sea of ​​problems,” the Russian top diplomat said in response. Zakharova went on to mention the exorbitant military spending of the US, which includes a network of military bases encircling Russia. The US military budget is roughly equivalent to that of the next 11 nations combined, with an annual budget of at least $715 billion.
“The US healthcare system has shown its worth to the American people and the rest of the world during the pandemic,” Zakharova pointed out. “If you are concerned about roads, please, turn your eyes to New York, where the Manhattan potholes are probably worse than in any other major city in the world.”
Zakharova also described statements of White House representatives as absurd and error-filled, qualities which “clearly testify to the quality of education” in the North American nation.
RELATED CONTENT: Russia Challenges US, May Deploy Missiles in Cuba and Venezuela (Report)
Regarding the US backed puppet Juan GuaidĂł, the president of Venezuela’s National Assembly, Jorge RodrĂguez, recently asked the Special Committee For The Investigation Of Actions Perpetrated Against the Republic to “incorporate within a period of seven days the crimes” committed on January 3 by former deputy GuaidĂł and his fake National Assembly. On that date, GuaidĂł and his allies announced that they would continue attempting to act as Venezuela’s parliament, despite the fact that their Constitutional term expired in January 2021. Although its international support has evaporated, GuaidĂł’s attempted parallel government, frequently referred to as “Narnia,” continues to be recognized as the interim government of Venezuela by the US.
As RodrĂguez detailed, GuaidĂł was allocated $36.6 million by Washington for the so-called Health Heroes. In addition, $8 million was distributed for operating costs of the fake National Assembly, and another $23 million for “security and defense of democracy.” GuaidĂł and his entourage have embezzled several hundred million dollars, both from US taxpayer dollars, and of assets belonging to the Venezuelan state and people.
Featured image: Maria Zakharova with a caption of her recent statement on Guaido and Tikhanovskaya. Photo: Russia’s MFA.
Special for Orinoco Tribune by JesĂşs RodrĂguez Espinoza
OT/JRE/SL

JesĂşs RodrĂguez-Espinoza is an expert in international relations, Venezuelan politics, and communication. He served for several years as Consul General of Venezuela in Chicago (United States); before that, he was part of the foundational editorial team of Aporrea.org. He is the founder and editor of the Venezuelan anti-imperialist news outlet Orinoco Tribune.
Support Groundbreaking Anti-Imperialist Journalism: Stand with Orinoco Tribune!
For 7 years, we’ve delivered unwavering truth from the Global South frontline – no corporate filters, no hidden agenda.
Last year’s impact:
• Almost 200K active readers demanding bold perspectives
• 216 original pieces published in 2025 alone
Fuel our truth-telling: Every contribution strengthens independent media that actually challenges imperialism.
Be the difference:Â Donate now to keep radical journalism alive!