Russia Urges U.S. to Free Maduro Amid Military Action in Venezuela

On Saturday, the Russian Foreign Ministry urged the immediate release of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his spouse from U.S. detention, following President Donald Trump’s announcement that they had been apprehended during military operations in Caracas.

“We strongly appeal to U.S. officials to reassess this stance and release the legitimately elected leader of a sovereign nation along with his wife,” the Ministry stated, emphasizing the importance of resolving the severe tensions through diplomatic means.

In another communication, the Ministry reported that Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov had a phone conversation with Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez Gomez, during which he conveyed his “support for the Venezuelan people amid the armed aggression.”

Unnamed sources informed Reuters that Gomez was currently in Moscow, but Russian officials dismissed this claim as “false.”

“The Russian Federation will continue to champion the path taken by its Bolivarian leadership to protect the nation’s interests and sovereignty,” the Foreign Ministry declared, calling for caution and warning against further escalation.

Meanwhile, the Russian embassy in Caracas stated its operations continue without interruption, maintaining regular communication with both Venezuelan officials and Russian nationals residing in the country. There were no reports of injuries among Russian citizens due to the assaults.

Trump announced that U.S. forces executed a “large-scale strike” in Venezuela on Saturday morning, revealing that Maduro and his wife had been captured “in cooperation with U.S. law enforcement” and were being transported to New York to face criminal charges in the U.S.

In remarks to The New York Times shortly after his announcement, Trump praised what he described as a “brilliant operation.”

“Extensive planning and exceptional troops contributed to its success,” he reportedly stated. “It was, in fact, a brilliant operation.”

The Russian Foreign Ministry characterized Maduro’s detention as an “unacceptable violation of the sovereignty of an independent state.”

Trump is set to hold a press conference regarding the U.S. military actions at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida, at 11 a.m. local time on Saturday.

According to CNN, Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López indicated that the U.S. strike affected urban regions throughout Venezuela, with missiles and projectiles launched from American helicopters.

He noted that Venezuelan authorities are currently assessing the number of casualties resulting from the attacks.

“This invasion constitutes the greatest affront our nation has faced,” López asserted, pledging that Venezuela would resist the foreign military presence.

The assault on Venezuela and the apprehension of Maduro occurred after several months of the U.S. significantly bolstering its military presence in the Caribbean, deploying thousands of troops and dozens of warships to the area.

Since September, U.S. forces have targeted vessels that the Trump administration claims are linked to drug trafficking in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific.

Furthermore, Trump has consistently expressed interest in changing the regime in Venezuela, accusing the Caracas authorities of “narco-terrorism” and of seizing U.S. oil assets.

In a separate interview with Fox News later on Saturday, the president stated that the U.S. will be “intensely involved” in Venezuela’s oil sector following the operation to capture Maduro.