Russia evacuates diplomats' families from Venezuela as US seizes oil tankers?
A Russian-made Venezuelan Air Force Sukhoi Su-30MKV multirole strike fighter flies over Venezuelan Independence parade to celebrate in Caracas, Venezuela on July 5, 2017. (AFP Photo)
By Newsroom
December 22, 2025 11:48 PM GMT+03:00
Russia's Foreign Ministry has begun evacuating the families of diplomats from Venezuela, a European intelligence official told AP on Monday, as the United States pursues its third sanctioned oil tanker in the Caribbean and President Donald Trump convenes senior national security officials at his Mar-a-Lago resort.
The evacuations, which started Friday and include women and children, come as Russian officials assess the situation in Venezuela in what the intelligence source described as "very grim tones." The withdrawals signal heightened concerns about stability in the South American nation as the Trump administration escalates its four-month pressure campaign against President Nicolas Maduro's government.
More than 10 vehicles bearing diplomatic license plates stood outside Russia's embassy in Caracas Monday morning, though no personnel were visible entering or exiting the compound. The vehicles had departed by early afternoon. Neither the White House nor the Kremlin responded to requests for comment.
Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil said Monday he spoke by telephone with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, who expressed Moscow's support against Trump's declared blockade. Gil accused Washington of committing "attacks against vessels and extrajudicial executions, and the unlawful acts of piracy" in the Caribbean...
Russia denied evacuationIn a statement made by the Russian Foreign Ministry, it was said,
"The information published by the Associated Press (AP) claiming that Russia's embassy in Venezuela has been evacuated is false."
The statement also noted, "We hope that the Trump administration, which has a pragmatic approach, will not make a fatal mistake."
It further added, "Venezuela is a friendly country to Russia, and Moscow hopes that the US will not enter into a situation that would lead to unforeseeable consequences for the entire Western Hemisphere."
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