Russia

Russia said on Monday it is holding talks with Cuba to counter acute fuel shortages resulting from U.S. pressure.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said the United States is "openly seeking to expel our companies" from Venezuela following the capture of authoritarian President Nicolas Maduro in early January.

Dmitry Medvedev, former Russian president and current deputy chairman of Russia's Security Council said the United States' seizure of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has shattered international relations and could be viewed by Caracas as an act of war.

Russia's ambassador to the United Nations, Vasily Nebenzya, said Cuba would not experience a betrayal similar to the one he claims led to the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro.

Russia said two crew members of a Russian-flagged oil tanker seized by the United States earlier this month have been released and are on their way home, marking a partial resolution in a dispute that has heightened tensions over sanctions enforcement and maritime law.

Russia's ambassador to Venezuela said the country's forces fired two shots against U.S. forces during the raid that captured authoritarian President Nicolas Maduro but failed due to lack of preparation.

Russia's ambassador to Venezuela said the country knows the names of those who "betrayed" Venezuela's authoritarian President Nicolas Maduro earlier this month.

Cuba has turned to Africa for fuel supplies after the loss of regular oil shipments from Venezuela and dwindling deliveries from Russia and Mexico, according to satellite-tracking data cited by Colombian outlet Semana.

Russia said that the Trump administration has not followed through on assurances to release two Russian crew members detained after U.S. forces seized a Russian-flagged oil tanker earlier this month.

Venezuela's interim leader, Delcy Rodríguez, said that her government would maintain diplomatic relations with China, Russia, Iran and Cuba despite mounting pressure from Washington to sever those ties as a condition for expanded oil production and sales.

Russia said that any judicial decisions by U.S. authorities concerning Venezuela's Nicolás Maduro would be illegal and lack legitimacy under international law following his capture by U.S. forces earlier this month.

The United States has sought court warrants to seize dozens more oil tankers linked to Venezuela's crude trade, according to four sources familiar with the matter.

Critics warn U.S. military operation in Venezuela could become a double-edged sword that could incite Russia and China to justify their own military actions.

China said on Monday that Latin American countries are sovereign states with the right to choose their own international partners, responding to recent comments by U.S. President Donald Trump suggesting that Beijing and Moscow could buy Venezuelan oil only under U.S. oversight.

Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican's secretary of state, pressed the United States for clarity on its plans for Venezuela and raised a possible Russian asylum option for Nicolás Maduro days before a U.S. special operations raid captured the Venezuelan leader

China condemned the United States for what it called the "arbitrary" seizure of a Russian-flagged oil tanker on the high seas.

Russia accused the United States on Wednesday of violating international maritime law after U.S. forces seized a Russian-flagged oil tanker in the North Atlantic.

The U.S. is attempting to seize a sanctioned oil tanker that Russia has been seeking to protect, even sending armed naval forces to that end, according to a new report.

Russia has sent naval forces, including a submarine, to escort an oil tanker that has been fleeing seizure from the U.S. as part of its blockade of sanctioned vessels dealing with Venezuela, according to a new report.

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said that nearly 200 American troops entered central Caracas during a pre-dawn operation that resulted in the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro.

U.S. forces are still planning to seize a runaway oil tanker to enforce its blockade off such vessels dealing with Venezuela, even despite it changed its name and was added to a Russian database.

The Russian government has formally requested its U.S. counterpart to stop pursuing the tanker that has been fleeing Washington forces after attempting to reach Venezuela.

The Bella 1, the sanctioned tanker fleeing U.S. forces, has formally changed its name and has been added to an official Russian database, according to a new report.

Russia accused the United States of "piracy and banditry" over the seizure of tankers off Venezuela, part of the Trump administration's campaign to remove authoritarian President Nicolas Maduro from power.

Russia denied reports on Tuesday that it has begun evacuating staff from its embassy in Venezuela.

The company's legal representative, Andrey Shavkun, said the decision was beyond the control of either party and stemmed from conditions that make continued operations unviable

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he is not concerned about Russia's support for the Venezuelan regime as the Trump administration continues its campaign against the South American country.

Venezuela cautioned the U.S. about making a "fatal mistake" in its military campaign against Venezuela, adding that its recent decision to impose a blockade on sanctioned oil tankers "pose a threat to international shipping."

President Donald Trump is not concerned about Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro's phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, the White House said

Russian President Vladimir Putin held a call with Venezuela's authoritarian President Nicolas Maduro, where he reiterated Moscow's support for Caracas.