Is Russia distancing itself from Venezuela? Putin does not plan to contact Delcy Rodríguez in the near future

The Kremlin dampened expectations on Monday regarding a direct relationship between Moscow and the new leadership in Caracas. Russian President Vladimir Putin does not plan to communicate with Venezuela's acting president, Delcy Rodríguez, "in the near future," as confirmed by Kremlin spokesperson Dmitri Peskov in statements reported by Reuters.

Although Peskov left the door open for a quick contact "if necessary," the message marks a significant pause in the personal relationship that Putin maintained with Nicolás Maduro for years, who was captured in early January and transferred to the United States to face drug trafficking charges that the former president denies.

From Moscow, it is asserted that diplomatic contacts between both countries continue at a regular level, but the lack of a direct gesture towards Rodríguez contrasts with the political moment that Venezuela is experiencing and with the central role that the United States has taken on in the current phase of transition.

The Russian statement comes as Delcy Rodríguez has strengthened her relationship with Washington after assuming the interim presidency. The White House has publicly reiterated that her government has met “all the demands” set by Donald Trump, including an energy agreement valued at 500 million dollars that allows the United States to trade up to 50 million barrels of Venezuelan crude and manage the revenues.

Trump has not only defended that temporary alliance but has also justified it as a way to avoid a chaotic scenario similar to that of Iraq after the fall of Saddam Hussein. “We want a controlled transition”, said the president, who even described Rodríguez as a “fantastic person,” making it clear that his support is strategic and conditional.

In that same context, the interim president received the director of the CIA, John Ratcliffe, in Caracas for a meeting focused on economic cooperation and security, an encounter that underscored how far Washington has decided to bet on Rodríguez as a key figure in maintaining internal order while overseeing the transition process.