A day after <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-tells-russia-to-get-its-troops-out-of-venezuela-206097">President Trump asked </a>Russian troops to "get out" of Venezuela, the Russian foreign ministry said that its troops in Venezuela were "not linked" to any military operations.

"Russia, unlike Washington, "isn't threatening anyone" in Venezuela," the Russian foreign ministry said.

"They are involved in the implementation of agreements in the sphere of military and technical cooperation," said ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, adding they would remain in the country "for as long as needed."

"Russia is not changing the balance of power in the region, Russia is not threatening anyone unlike citizens in Washington whom I have just quoted," she added.

On Wednesday, President Trump had said that "Russia has to get out" as he met <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/enough-already-says-wife-of-venezuelan-opposition-leader-to-maduro-205184">Fabiana Rosales, the wife</a> of Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido. Trump and Vice President Mike Pence met with Rosales to express support for her husband

The Russian foreign ministry had earlier said that &nbsp;Moscow's decision to send military specialists to Caracas was in full accordance with Venezuelan law, after Russian military planes delivered troops and equipment to the country.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had warned foriegn minister Sergei Lavrov over the phone that "the United States and regional countries will not stand idly by as Russia exacerbates tensions in Venezuela."

"The United States views Russia's arrival of military planes this weekend as an unwelcome provocation," Pence said after meeting Rosales, adding,"We call on Russia today to cease all support of the Maduro regime and stand with Juan Guaido and stand with nations across this hemisphere and across the world until freedom is restored."

US has imposed heavy sanctions on Venezuela including its lucrative state oil company PDVSA.&nbsp;

Last week it sanctioned a key bank, BANDES and four affiliates over their support for President Nicolas Maduro. The Trump administration had also put sanctions on Venezuelan state mining company, charging that its illicit gold operations.

The US has already pulled out its diplomats from Venezuela. The US had recognised Juan Guaido, 35, as the interim president in January, calling Maduro’s 2018 re-election a fraud. Most countries in Europe and Latin America have also recognised Guaido. 
&nbsp;

A day after President Trump asked Russian troops to "get out" of Venezuela, the Russian foreign ministry said that its troops in Venezuela were "not linked" to any military operations.

A day after President Trump asked Russian troops to "get out" of Venezuela, the Russian foreign ministry said that its troops in Venezuela were "not linked" to any military operations. "Russia, unlike Washington, "isn't threatening anyone" in Venezuela," the Russian foreign ministry said. "They are involved in the implementation of agreements in the sphere of military and technical cooperation," said ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, adding they would remain in the country "for as long as needed." "Russia is not changing the balance of power in the region, Russia is not threatening anyone unlike citizens in Washington whom I have just quoted," she added. On Wednesday, President Trump had said that "Russia has to get out" as he met Fabiana Rosales, the wife of Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido. Trump and Vice President Mike Pence met with Rosales to express support for her husband The Russian foreign ministry had earlier said that Moscow's decision to send military specialists to Caracas was in full accordance with Venezuelan law, after Russian military planes delivered troops and equipment to the country. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had warned foriegn minister Sergei Lavrov over the phone that "the United States and regional countries will not stand idly by as Russia exacerbates tensions in Venezuela." "The United States views Russia's arrival of military planes this weekend as an unwelcome provocation," Pence said after meeting Rosales, adding,"We call on Russia today to cease all support of the Maduro regime and stand with Juan Guaido and stand with nations across this hemisphere and across the world until freedom is restored." US has imposed heavy sanctions on Venezuela including its lucrative state oil company PDVSA. Last week it sanctioned a key bank, BANDES and four affiliates over their support for President Nicolas Maduro. The Trump administration had also put sanctions on Venezuelan state mining company, charging that its illicit gold operations. The US has already pulled out its diplomats from Venezuela. The US had recognised Juan Guaido, 35, as the interim president in January, calling Maduro’s 2018 re-election a fraud. Most countries in Europe and Latin America have also recognised Guaido.

Russian troops in Venezuela not linked to any military operations: Foreign ministry

President Donald Trump <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/showdown-looms-as-venezuelan-opposition-leader-guaido-sets-aid-entry-date-197058">warned Venezuela </a>on Wednesday that "all options" are on the table and demanded that far left leader Nicolas Maduro unblock US aid shipments to the country.

Again stressing that he had not ruled out military options, Trump said he was "sad" about the "turmoil" in the oil-rich Latin American nation.

"You'll see," he told reporters at a White House meeting with his Colombian counterpart Ivan Duque, when asked if thousands of US troops could deploy.

Duque, whose country has taken in large numbers of Venezuelan refugees, also lambasted Maduro, saying that "obstructing the access of humanitarian aid is a crime against humanity."

The US aid, sitting on the Colombian side of the border with Venezuela, has become the latest flashpoint in the US-led push to topple Maduro, whose socialist government is bolstered by the military and backed by Russia and China.

Maduro accuses the United States of using the blocked aid shipments as pretext for an invasion.

However, much of Venezuela's population is in desperate need, lacking even basics like food and medicine.

"I think he's making a terrible mistake by not allowing that to happen," Trump said of Maduro's refusal to allow in the aid.

"We're trying to get food to people that are starving. You have people starving in Venezuela."&nbsp;

Washington has thrown its full weight behind opposition leader Juan Guaido, recognizing him as interim president, demanding that Maduro step aside and imposing sanctions. 
Around 50 countries have now recognized Guaido as interim president.

At a huge opposition rally on Tuesday, Guaido vowed that humanitarian aid would enter the country on February 23.

"We have almost 300,000 Venezuelans who will die if the aid doesn't enter," he added.

In his latest attempt to erode Maduro's authority over the military, Guaido said: "Here is a direct order to the armed forces: allow in the humanitarian aid once and for all (and) end the repression."

Guaido's team has also met with Brazilian officials to set up a second aid storage center on that border. The new right-wing government of President Jair Bolsonaro in Brazil, which took over in January after more than a decade of leftist rule there, has joined the growing coalition against Maduro.

But Maduro has so far resisted, portraying himself in the mold of historic Latin American anti-imperialist leaders. 
Moscow weighed in on Tuesday, with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov warning "against all interference in Venezuela's domestic affairs, including the use of force threatened by Washington."

President Donald Trump warned Venezuela on Wednesday that "all options" are on the table and demanded that far left leader Nicolas Maduro unblock US aid shipments to the country.

President Donald Trump warned Venezuela on Wednesday that "all options" are on the table and demanded that far left leader Nicolas Maduro unblock US aid shipments to the country. Again stressing that he had not ruled out military options, Trump said he was "sad" about the "turmoil" in the oil-rich Latin American nation. "You'll see," he told reporters at a White House meeting with his Colombian counterpart Ivan Duque, when asked if thousands of US troops could deploy. Duque, whose country has taken in large numbers of Venezuelan refugees, also lambasted Maduro, saying that "obstructing the access of humanitarian aid is a crime against humanity." The US aid, sitting on the Colombian side of the border with Venezuela, has become the latest flashpoint in the US-led push to topple Maduro, whose socialist government is bolstered by the military and backed by Russia and China. Maduro accuses the United States of using the blocked aid shipments as pretext for an invasion. However, much of Venezuela's population is in desperate need, lacking even basics like food and medicine. "I think he's making a terrible mistake by not allowing that to happen," Trump said of Maduro's refusal to allow in the aid. "We're trying to get food to people that are starving. You have people starving in Venezuela." Washington has thrown its full weight behind opposition leader Juan Guaido, recognizing him as interim president, demanding that Maduro step aside and imposing sanctions. Around 50 countries have now recognized Guaido as interim president. At a huge opposition rally on Tuesday, Guaido vowed that humanitarian aid would enter the country on February 23. "We have almost 300,000 Venezuelans who will die if the aid doesn't enter," he added. In his latest attempt to erode Maduro's authority over the military, Guaido said: "Here is a direct order to the armed forces: allow in the humanitarian aid once and for all (and) end the repression." Guaido's team has also met with Brazilian officials to set up a second aid storage center on that border. The new right-wing government of President Jair Bolsonaro in Brazil, which took over in January after more than a decade of leftist rule there, has joined the growing coalition against Maduro. But Maduro has so far resisted, portraying himself in the mold of historic Latin American anti-imperialist leaders. Moscow weighed in on Tuesday, with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov warning "against all interference in Venezuela's domestic affairs, including the use of force threatened by Washington."

Maduro making terrible mistake by not allowing aid to enter Venezuela: Trump

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Russian troops in Venezuela not linked to any military operations: Foreign ministry

Maduro making terrible mistake by not allowing aid to enter Venezuela: Trump