Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino gives his thumb up as he sits on the cockpit of a Russian Tupolev Tu-160 strategic long-range heavy supersonic bomber after it landed at Maiquetia International Airport, just north of Caracas. Photo: AFP/Frederico Parra
Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino gives his thumb up as he sits on the cockpit of a Russian Tupolev Tu-160 strategic long-range heavy supersonic bomber after it landed at Maiquetia International Airport, just north of Caracas. Photo: AFP/Frederico Parra

After Russian aircraft, including two nuclear-capable Tu-160 bombers, landed in Venezuela this week, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was quick to take the opportunity to take a swipe at two of Washington’s favorite objects of criticism.

“The Russian and Venezuelan people should see this for what it is: two corrupt governments squandering public funds, and squelching liberty and freedom while their people suffer,” Pompeo said via Twitter.

In response, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that Pompeo’s comments were undiplomatic and wrong, according to The Moscow Times.

“We consider it completely inappropriate,” Peskov said.

Zvezda television, a media outlet run by the Russian military, released a video of the planes’ landing on Tuesday.

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