Putin pushed Trump for 'very strange swap between Venezuela and Ukraine' claims ex-advisor

Recent discussions have brought back attention to a surprising and little-known geopolitical proposal involving Venezuela and Ukraine. According to Fiona Hill, a former adviser to President Donald Trump, Russian officials in 2019 hinted at a “strange swap” between the two countries.

During a 2019 congressional hearing, Hill revealed that Russia seemed willing to reduce its support for Nicolás Maduro in Venezuela if the United States allowed Moscow more freedom in Ukraine. She described the repeated Russian suggestions as an attempt to create a “swap arrangement” between these distant nations.

Hill’s comments gained renewed attention on social media following the recent U.S. operation aimed at capturing Maduro. She explained that Russian media pushed the idea by referencing the Monroe Doctrine, the 19th-century principle opposing European interference in the Western Hemisphere. Interestingly, former President Trump invoked the same doctrine to justify U.S. intervention in Venezuela.

Although Russia never officially proposed a deal, Anatoly Antonov, Moscow’s ambassador to the U.S. at the time, hinted to Hill that Russia might let the U.S. operate freely in Venezuela if America reciprocated in Europe. Hill recounted to The Associated Press:

"There were subtle hints, nudges, even winks suggesting a possible arrangement but nobody in the U.S. expressed interest."

In April 2019, Trump sent Hill to Moscow to clarify the U.S. stance: “Ukraine and Venezuela are not related.” At the time, the U.S. and its allies recognized Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaidó as the country’s interim president.

Fast forward seven years, and the scenario looks different. The U.S. has now actively pursued policy in Venezuela following Maduro’s ouster. Trump also revived his controversial Greenland threats and even hinted at military action against Colombia for its role in cocaine trafficking.

Hill noted that such aggressive moves reinforce Russia’s belief in spheres of influence, emphasizing the principle of “might makes right” when it comes to global powers like the U.S., Russia, and China.

Hill observed that Trump’s actions in Venezuela complicate efforts to criticize Russia’s behavior in Ukraine. If the U.S. can intervene in another country and justify it legally, she argues, it becomes harder to call Russia’s ambitions “illegitimate.” The Trump administration characterized the Venezuelan raid as a law enforcement operation, insisting that capturing Maduro was lawful.

At the time of reporting, Russia’s Foreign Ministry had not commented on Hill’s claims. While President Vladimir Putin has remained silent regarding the Maduro operation, the Ministry condemned U.S. actions as “aggression.”