He announced that he hopes that the administration of the US president, , will not make a fatal mistake regarding the and expressed concern about decisions of those who threaten international shipping.
The blockade of Venezuela by the USA
On Tuesday, Trump ordered a “blockade” of all sanctioned tankers entering or leaving Venezuela, as Washington tries to increase pressure on the government of President Nicolas Maduro.
An embargo is effectively in place after the US seized a sanctions tanker off Venezuela last week, with cargo vessels carrying millions of barrels of oil sitting idle in the country’s waters rather than risk seizure.
Moscow reacts and calls for restraint
“We observe the continuous and deliberate escalation of tensions around Venezuela, a country friendly to us. Of particular concern is the unilateral nature of decisions that endanger international shipping,” the Russian ministry said in a statement.
“We hope that the administration of Donald Trump, which is characterized by a rational and practical approach, will not make a fatal mistake.”
Moscow prefers a normal resumption of dialogue between Washington and Caracas and hopes the US will not get involved in a situation with “unforeseen consequences for the entire Western Hemisphere”, adding that Russia supports “the policy of the Maduro government”.
Separately, the Kremlin called on countries in the region to show restraint.
“We see tensions rising in the region and we see this as potentially very dangerous,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.
“President Putin recently had a telephone conversation with President Maduro. And, of course, we call on all countries in the region to show restraint in order to avoid any unforeseen developments.”
