U.S. authorities have presented a series of demands for Venezuela, requiring the country to cut economic ties with both China and Russia in order to increase oil production, according to sources reported on January 7.
Delcy Rodriguez, who assumed the role of interim president on January 5 after being recognized by the Venezuelan Supreme Court as acting head of state on January 4, has been urged by the United States to sever relations with the two nations.
On January 3, U.S. President Donald Trump announced that the United States had conducted a large-scale military strike against Venezuela, capturing Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Celia Flores. The Russian Foreign Ministry immediately called on the U.S. government to release Maduro.
Maduro was taken into custody by New York Federal Court on January 5, where he maintained his claim as president and declared his innocence. A judge scheduled a hearing for him on March 17, while also arranging for consular officers to visit Venezuela.
