How Russia Condemned U.S. Military Operation in Venezuela to Demand Immediate Release of Maduro and Spouse
The Russian Federation has issued a series of formal statements condemning the recent U.S. military operation in Venezuela, in which Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores were captured and transported to the United States.
Describing the action as “armed aggression,” Moscow demanded their immediate release and called for an urgent meeting of the United Nations Security Council.
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| Sergey Lavrov’s telephone conversation with Delcy Eloína Rodríguez Gómez. Via: MFA Russia |
Donald Trump’s actions in Venezuela do not make America safer, stronger, or more affordable.
— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) January 4, 2026
That Maduro is a brutal, illegitimate dictator does not change the fact that this action was both unlawful and unwise. We’ve seen this movie before. Wars for regime change or oil that…
Emphasizing the principles of international law, Moscow called for de-escalation and expressed its readiness to assist in dialogue-based conflict resolution efforts.
Referring to Latin America’s 2014 declaration as a “zone of peace,” Russia asserted that Venezuela must be allowed to determine its own future without what it termed “destructive external interference,” especially military in nature.
The Foreign Ministry stated its support for the Bolivarian government and expressed solidarity with the Venezuelan people.
Following confirmation from U.S. authorities that Maduro and his wife had been forcibly removed from Venezuelan territory and were now in custody in New York, Moscow issued a second, more strongly worded statement.
It described the operation as a “flagrant violation of the sovereignty of an independent state” and demanded immediate clarification from Washington regarding the legality and intent behind the operation.
Nicolas Maduro on board the USS Iwo Jima. pic.twitter.com/omF2UpDJhA
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) January 3, 2026
In parallel, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov held a telephone conversation with Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez. During the call, Lavrov reiterated Russia’s support for Venezuela’s national sovereignty and expressed firm solidarity with the Venezuelan people.
Both parties reportedly stated their commitment to strengthening the strategic partnership between their countries and agreed on the need to prevent any further escalation of tensions.
Team Trump is tough and cynical in advancing its country’s interests. Removing Maduro had nothing to do with drugs – only oil, and they openly admit this. Lex fortissimum is clearly stronger than ordinary justice, but whether they can run Venezuela remotely is a big question.
— Dmitry Medvedev (@MedvedevRussiaE) January 4, 2026
Later the same day, the Foreign Ministry issued another communication, stating unequivocally that the United States should reconsider its position and facilitate the release of Venezuela’s “legitimately elected president.”
Moscow’s stance places it in alignment with several Latin American nations that have also condemned the operation and expressed concern about regional instability and international legal norms.
Russia's embassy in Caracas continues to operate normally and remains in close contact with both Venezuelan authorities and Russian nationals in the country. The embassy confirmed that there were no reports of injuries among Russian citizens following the operation.
The Kremlin’s response adds another layer of complexity to the already polarizing international reaction to the U.S. raid. While Washington insists the operation was lawfully executed based on existing indictments and justified by Maduro’s alleged involvement in narco-terrorism, critics — including Russia, Cuba, Colombia, and Mexico — argue it constitutes an illegal act of regime change and a dangerous breach of international norms.
Attention is expected to shift to the United Nations, where Russia, a permanent member of the Security Council, is expected to press for formal debate.
The legal and geopolitical ramifications of the operation are likely to dominate early 2026 foreign policy discourse, with concerns growing over the precedent set by forcibly detaining the head of state of a sovereign nation.
Read the full coverage of Venezuela Seizure on IndianRepublic.in
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