On Saturday, Russia’s Foreign Ministry demanded the release of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his spouse from U.S. custody, following President Donald Trump’s announcement that they had been apprehended during military operations in Caracas.
“We strongly urge U.S. leadership to rethink its stance and free the duly elected president of a sovereign nation along with his wife,” the Foreign Ministry stated, emphasizing the importance of resolving the intense conflict through diplomatic channels.
Additionally, the ministry reported that Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov spoke by phone with Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez Gomez, expressing his “solidarity with the Venezuelan populace in light of the military aggression.”
Unnamed sources informed Reuters that Gomez was in Moscow; however, Russian officials labeled that claim as “false.”
“The Russian Federation will persist in backing its Bolivarian leadership in protecting the nation’s interests and sovereignty,” the Foreign Ministry continued, calling for moderation and cautioning against further escalation.
The Russian embassy in Caracas stated that its operations are continuing as normal and that it maintains regular communication with both Venezuelan officials and Russian nationals residing in the South American country. There have been no reports of injuries among Russian citizens from the assaults.
Donald Trump announced that the U.S. military executed a “large-scale strike” against Venezuela on Saturday morning, claiming that Maduro and his wife were apprehended “in conjunction with U.S. law enforcement” and were being transported to New York to face U.S. charges.
In remarks to The New York Times shortly after his announcement, Trump praised the operation as a “brilliant success.”
“Extensive planning and exceptional personnel made this possible,” he reportedly stated. “It was a brilliant operation, indeed.”
The Russian Foreign Ministry characterized Maduro’s capture as an “intolerable violation of the sovereignty of an independent state.”
Trump is expected to hold a press conference regarding the U.S. strikes at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida, at 11 a.m. local time on Saturday.
CNN reported that Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López indicated that the U.S. assault affected urban regions throughout Venezuela, with missiles and rockets launched from American military helicopters.
He noted that Venezuelan authorities are currently working to determine the number of casualties resulting from the attacks.
“This invasion signifies the most considerable affront the country has ever experienced,” López declared, asserting that Venezuela will resist the presence of foreign troops.
The assault on Venezuela and the arrest of Maduro occurred after months of the U.S. ramping up its military footprint in the Caribbean, deploying thousands of troops and numerous warships to the area.
Since September, U.S. forces have conducted strikes on vessels that the Trump Administration claims were involved in drug trafficking in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific.
Furthermore, Trump has consistently suggested a desire for regime change in Venezuela, accusing the Caracas government of “narco-terrorism” and stealing U.S. oil assets.
In an interview with Fox News later that Saturday, the president noted that the U.S. intends to be “very strongly involved” in Venezuela’s oil sector following the operation to detain Maduro.
