Lula Calls Putin in First Foreign Contact of the Year to Coordinate on Venezuela

Overview

• Kremlin readout says Lula spoke with Putin on January 14 in what it described as Putin’s first international call of 2026.
• The discussion centered on the situation surrounding Venezuela, according to the official account.
• Both leaders reaffirmed shared approaches focused on protecting Venezuela’s sovereignty and national interests.
• They agreed to continue coordinating efforts through the UN and BRICS to help de‑escalate tensions in Latin America and other regions.
• The PTI-syndicated report notes Russia’s Foreign Ministry condemned reported U.S. military action involving Nicolás Maduro, while Putin had not commented.