**Did Russia Offer the U.S. Freedom of Action in Venezuela in Exchange for Ukraine?**
The Kremlin would be “delighted” by the idea that major powers—such as Russia, the United States, and China—are carving out spheres of influence, as it reinforces the notion that **law is a product of power**, according to Fiona Hill, former senior Russia adviser to President Donald Trump. ![puttru.webp>](file-guid:90057c6c-054f-47ab-a2b5-c40fc2b4d4a3 "puttru.webp" =250x)
As early as 2019, Russian officials hinted that Moscow might be willing to abandon its support for Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in exchange for U.S. acceptance of Russian dominance in Ukraine, Hill revealed.
During a 2019 congressional hearing, she stated that Russian representatives had repeatedly floated the idea of a **“multilateral swap-type deal”** involving Venezuela and Ukraine.
Her remarks—made seven years ago—have resurfaced this week and are circulating widely on social media following the recent U.S. operation that led to Maduro’s ouster.
Hill explained that Russia promoted this concept through state-aligned media, invoking the **Monroe Doctrine**—a 19th-century U.S. policy asserting that European powers should not interfere in the Western Hemisphere, while the U.S. would refrain from involvement in European affairs. Trump himself has cited this doctrine to justify American intervention in Venezuela.
Although Russian officials never made a formal proposal, Russia’s then-ambassador to the U.S., Anatoly Antonov, repeatedly suggested that Moscow would allow Washington a free hand in Venezuela **if the U.S. reciprocated by granting Russia a free hand in Europe**, Hill told _The Associated Press_ this week.
> “At first, it was a ‘wink, nudge—what if we make a deal?’” she recalled. “But no one in the U.S. showed interest.”
In April 2019, Trump dispatched Hill—then his top adviser on Russia and Europe—to Moscow to deliver a clear message: **“Ukraine and Venezuela have nothing in common.”**
At the time, the White House stood united with its Western allies in recognizing Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaidó as the country’s legitimate interim president. Seven years later, however, the geopolitical landscape has shifted dramatically.
Following Maduro’s removal, the U.S. announced it would now “lead” Venezuela policy unilaterally. Trump has also renewed threats to seize control of **Greenland**—an autonomous Danish territory and NATO member—and has signaled possible military action against **Colombia**.
Hill warned that Trump’s actions in Venezuela undermine the moral and legal standing of Kyiv’s allies when denouncing Russia’s claims over Ukraine as “illegitimate.”
> “We have just witnessed a situation where the U.S. has taken control—or at least overthrown—the government of another country using a legal construct that does not reflect reality,” she said.
The Trump administration has described the Venezuela operation as a **law enforcement action**, insisting Maduro’s removal was lawful. The Russian Foreign Ministry has not yet issued a formal response to Hill’s recent comments. While President Vladimir Putin has remained silent on the military operation against Maduro, the ministry has condemned what it calls **“American aggression.”**
