Krystyna Kazakova22:56, 23.12.25

The Russian Foreign Ministry stated that they do not plan to evacuate the embassy in Venezuela, but did not deny the fact that the families of diplomats were being evacuated.

Moscow assesses the situation in Caracas, the capital of Venezuela, as “very bleak” after the US declared a naval blockade and deployed warships, The Times reports.

The publication notes that Russia has begun evacuating the families of Russian diplomats from Venezuela as Washington increases military pressure on the country’s President Nicolas Maduro.

As the Associated Press reports, citing a European intelligence official who spoke to the publication anonymously, Russia assesses the situation in Caracas “very bleakly.”

At the same time, the publication notes that the Russian Foreign Ministry denied this information, calling it a “lie” and a “Western provocation.”

Although Russia stated that their embassy would not be evacuated, they did not answer the question of whether the wives and children of diplomats would be evacuated.

US President Donald Trump called on Maduro and his government to resign.

“If he wants to do something, if he plays tough, this will be the last time he can play tough,” the White House chief of staff said on Monday, December 22.

Trump also ordered a naval blockade of oil tankers entering or leaving Venezuela. According to the publication, the US has now seized two tankers off the coast of Venezuela and is pursuing a third. 

The publication shared that Russia warned Trump last week that any US military intervention in Venezuela would be a “fatal mistake.” Moscow added that it could have “unforeseen consequences for the entire Western Hemisphere.”

The article points out that despite the strong rhetoric from pro-Kremlin hardliners, there is no sign that Russian President Vladimir Putin is ready to take decisive action to protect Maduro.

Venezuelan Foreign Minister Ivan Gil said on Monday, December 22, that he had a telephone conversation with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, who expressed Moscow’s support for Venezuela.

The publication said that Russia and Venezuela signed a strategic partnership during Maduro’s visit to Moscow in May of this year. It commits both countries to “military-technical” cooperation, but does not include a mutual defense pact.

The article cites data that more than 100 people have died as a result of US military strikes on vessels suspected of drug smuggling in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific.

Two crew members clung to the side of their burning ship when the US military opened fire on one of the vessels. Legal experts say the attack may constitute a war crime and the US strikes are illegal.

(C)UNIAN 2025