Russia has condemned US President Donald Trump's call for Moscow to withdraw from Venezuela, describing his comments as 'boorishness on a global scale'. Trump told reporters on Wednesday that 'Russia has to get out' of Venezuela, following reports of Russian troop deployments to the crisis-hit nation.
Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova criticised Trump's remarks in unusually undiplomatic language. 'To tell Russia to get out of Venezuela is going completely over the top. This is total boorishness on a global scale,' she said, according to Russian news agency RIA Novosti. She added that there were no 'legal let alone moral' grounds for the demand.
Two Russian military planes landed at Venezuela's main airport on Saturday, reportedly carrying dozens of troops and equipment. Russia insists the deployment is in line with defence co-operation accords. 'We are not interfering in the internal affairs of Venezuela in any way,' said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, adding that 'no-one tells [the US] where they should be and where they shouldn't be'.
Venezuela is in the grip of a deep political and economic crisis, with opposition leader Juan Guaidó declaring himself interim president in January, backed by the US and many European and South American nations. President Nicolás Maduro, a key ally of Russia, accuses Guaidó of attempting a coup with 'US imperialist' support.
Russia has lent Venezuela billions of dollars and supports its oil industry and military. The US has imposed sanctions on Maduro's government and urged Moscow to 'cease its unconstructive behaviour' in Venezuela.
