In a striking appeal to international law, the Russian government has called for Venezuela's sovereignty to be 'respected' following a major US military intervention in the South American nation. The operation, which took place earlier this week, resulted in the deaths of at least 80 people and the capture of the country's leader, Nicolas Maduro.
Kremlin's Call for Restraint
The Russian foreign ministry issued a formal statement on January 7, 2026, urging de-escalation and a return to diplomatic norms. 'We firmly insist that Venezuela should have guaranteed right to determine its destiny on its own, without any destructive interference from the outside,' the declaration read. It further stressed the need for 'respect for international legal norms, primarily the UN Charter' and expressed Russia's 'unwavering solidarity' with the Venezuelan people and government.
The statement also offered support to Delcy Rodríguez, whom it referred to as the authorised president of Venezuela, wishing her success in governing the Bolivarian Republic. Moscow emphasised its readiness to continue providing 'necessary support' to Caracas.
Diplomatic Pressure at the UN
This diplomatic move follows earlier actions by Russia at the United Nations. Vasily Nebenzya, Russia's permanent representative to the UN Security Council, had previously called for the release of Maduro and his wife, citing confirmed information that they were being held in the United States, specifically in New York. 'We urge the American leadership to release the president of an independent country and his wife immediately,' Nebenzya stated.
The Russian position insists that Latin America and the Caribbean must remain a 'zone of peace' where the sovereignty of all nations is guaranteed. This appeal has been met with scepticism by many Western observers, given Russia's own history of military interventions in neighbouring states such as Ukraine and Georgia.
A Strategic Partnership Under Strain
The crisis places Russia's significant strategic interests in Venezuela in jeopardy. Historically, the relationship between the two nations deepened under President Vladimir Putin, transforming into a key partnership involving both energy ties and military cooperation. Venezuela is widely viewed as Russia's most important trading and military ally in the Latin American region.
The country also holds the world's largest proven oil reserves, where Russian state energy companies have major holdings. With Maduro, a staunch ally who supported Russia's invasion of Ukraine, now detained, the future of these assets appears uncertain. Analysts suggest that Putin must now tread a careful line, weighing his response against the potential geopolitical ramifications and his complex relationship with the new US administration under President Donald Trump.
The loss of Maduro represents a significant blow to Moscow's influence in the Western Hemisphere, forcing a recalculation of its foreign policy in a region it has long sought to cultivate as a counterbalance to American power.
