On Saturday, Russia expressed strong disapproval of what it described as an "armed aggression" by the United States against Venezuela. This reaction came after President Donald Trump announced the capture of Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, during a large-scale military operation initiated in the early hours of January 3.
Moscow's Foreign Ministry released an official statement conveying its "deep concern" and condemnation of the U.S. actions, asserting that Washington's justifications are "unfounded" and driven by "ideological hostility" rather than pragmatic or diplomatic reasons.
"Latin America should remain a zone of peace, as proclaimed in 2014. Venezuela must be guaranteed the right to determine its own future without any destructive interference, especially not military intervention," the statement declared.
The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs reiterated its "solidarity with the Venezuelan people" and its support for the "Bolivarian leadership" previously headed by Maduro, emphasizing Venezuela's right to defend its sovereignty against "external pressures."
Furthermore, Russia endorsed Caracas's proposal, along with other Latin American governments, to call an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council to address the crisis.
"We are prepared to assist all parties in seeking solutions through dialogue," the statement added.
The Russian Embassy in Caracas reported that it continues to operate normally and maintains regular contact with local authorities and Russian citizens in Venezuela. So far, no Russian nationals have been reported affected by the conflict.
President Donald Trump announced that Maduro and his wife have been "captured and removed from Venezuela" as part of "Operation Bolivarian Freedom," aimed at "restoring democracy and ending the criminal Chavista regime."
The U.S. President is scheduled to hold a press conference this Saturday at 11:00 a.m. at Mar-a-Lago to provide further details about the operation.
Questions and Answers on the U.S. Military Action in Venezuela
Why did Russia condemn the U.S. military action in Venezuela?
Russia condemned the U.S. military action as an "armed aggression" and criticized it as being driven by "ideological hostility" rather than pragmatic reasons. Russia emphasized the need for Latin America to remain a zone of peace.
What was the purpose of "Operation Bolivarian Freedom" according to President Trump?
According to President Trump, "Operation Bolivarian Freedom" aimed to "restore democracy and end the criminal Chavista regime" in Venezuela by capturing Nicolás Maduro and his wife.
What actions has Russia proposed in response to the crisis?
Russia has backed the proposal to hold an urgent UN Security Council meeting to address the situation and expressed willingness to support dialogue to find solutions to the crisis.