Moscow: Russia has condemned the recent US military strikes on Venezuela, expressing a strong stance against what it describes as an act of armed aggression. The Russian Foreign Ministry issued a statement emphasizing its readiness to support peaceful solutions through dialogue.
According to Anadolu Agency, the Russian Foreign Ministry argued that the justifications provided by the United States for the strikes are unfounded, suggesting that ideological hostility has overshadowed pragmatic business-like relationships and the potential for trust-building. The ministry stressed the importance of avoiding further escalation and called for a focus on dialogue to resolve grievances.
The statement underscored the necessity for Latin America to remain a zone of peace, as declared in 2014, and emphasized Venezuela's right to determine its own future without external military interference. Russia reaffirmed its support for Venezuela and backed calls for an immediate meeting of the UN Security Council to address the situation.
In response to the US actions, Venezuela's government accused the United States of targeting civilian and military installations across multiple states, leading to a national state of alert. US President Donald Trump confirmed the "large scale" strike via Truth Social, claiming that Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife had been captured and removed from the country. These developments follow months of US pressure on Maduro over allegations of his involvement in drug trafficking, which he has denied, expressing a willingness for dialogue.
Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez stated they are unaware of Maduro's whereabouts and demanded proof of life from President Trump. In a separate statement, Russia expressed alarm over Trump's claims, calling for immediate clarification regarding Maduro's status and labeling the alleged actions as an unacceptable breach of Venezuela's sovereignty.
Russian Federation Council Deputy Speaker Konstantin Kosachev criticized the strikes as lacking substantive basis and violating international law. He voiced confidence that the global community would distance itself from the US actions and condemn them.
The Russian Embassy in Caracas reported that its building was not damaged in the strikes and that the surrounding area was not targeted, maintaining the safety of the diplomatic mission.