This overview covers several important topics. First, Venezuela is currently experiencing an informal election campaign between two candidates, Machado and Rodriguez. Machado, a Nobel Prize laureate, is abroad, while Rodriguez, seen as Chavez’s successor, is favored by external actors, including the US. The contest between democracy and stability in Venezuela draws international attention.
Second, negotiations in Paris are set to address the possibility of deploying US troops to Ukraine. The participants will discuss conditions and timing for a possible US military involvement. Such statements have circulated for years but remain mainly as diplomatic leverage on Russia.
Russian general and parliament member Gurulyov has unexpectedly acknowledged severe economic problems in Russia tied to the war: shortage of funds for salaries, sending employees on unpaid leave, and financial crises in several regions. This is one of the first times such admissions have come from an official.
Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) is seeing changes as the head of the presidential office, Budanov, joins the council, signaling stronger coordination within the top leadership amid the war.
Ukraine also conducted a successful strike on a Russian oil facility in Lipetsk, demonstrating its ability to carry out deep strikes into enemy territory.
The author calls for continued support for the Ukrainian army and stresses the ongoing fight against Russian propaganda.
