Russia Proposed "Venezuela for Ukraine" Swap, Former Trump Advisor Claims

WISE NEWS PRESS / WASHINGTON, USA

Former White House advisor Fiona Hill has disclosed that Russia repeatedly proposed an unofficial "sphere of influence" swap, offering to step back from Venezuela if the United States granted Moscow a free hand in Ukraine.

According to Hill, former Russian Ambassador to Washington Anatoliy Antonov delivered these messages multiple times, suggesting a geopolitical trade-off based on 19th-century diplomatic principles. The proposal aimed to revitalize the concept of "spheres of influence," where major powers dictate terms within their respective geographic halves of the globe.

The Monroe Doctrine as a Bargaining Chip

Hill stated that Russian officials used the "Monroe Doctrine"—a US policy opposing European interference in the Western Hemisphere—as a justification for their demands in Eastern Europe. Moscow's argument was that if the US intended to act unilaterally in Venezuela, Russia should be entitled to the same "serenity" regarding its neighbors.

During a mission to Moscow in April 2019, Hill reportedly told Russian officials that "Ukraine and Venezuela are not connected," rejecting the premise of a "tit-for-tat" arrangement. At the time, the Trump administration recognized opposition leader Juan Guaidó as the legitimate leader of Venezuela, while Russia continued to back the Maduro regime.

A Shifting Geopolitical Landscape

Seven years later, the geopolitical stakes have evolved significantly. Following the recent US-led operation to capture Nicolás Maduro, Hill noted that the "rule of law" is increasingly being replaced by the "law of power." She warned that such unilateral actions by the US make it harder for allies to label Russia's ambitions in Ukraine as illegitimate.

"We had a situation where the US removed the government, or at least the leadership, of another country on fictional grounds," Hill told the Associated Press, referring to the recent legal justifications used for the Venezuela operation.

Reactions from Moscow and Washington

The Russian Foreign Ministry has not yet issued a formal response to Hill’s latest revelations. However, the Kremlin has previously condemned US "aggression" in Latin America. While President Vladimir Putin has remained silent on the specific capture of Maduro, his administration continues to emphasize a multipolar world order that favors distinct regional power blocs.

The Trump administration maintains that the operation against Maduro was a lawful law enforcement action. Nevertheless, Hill's disclosures suggest that behind the public hostility, a high-stakes game of "geopolitical chess" has been ongoing, with entire nations potentially being treated as pawns in a global power struggle.

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