MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The recent US sanctions against Venezuela's financial and oil sectors are aimed at destabilizing the situation in the country even further, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Monday.
"…The sanctions announced against the financial and oil sectors of Venezuela are obviously aimed at aggravating the instability of the situation in the country, at deepening economic problems," Zakharova said in a statement posted on the ministry's website.
"They are provoking those irreconcilable who do not see the realization of political opportunities for themselves without the removal of the Venezuelan leadership," she added.
At the same time, the US sanctions against Venezuela will not affect Russia’s readiness to develop and strengthen cooperation with the country, Zakharova added.
“We will carefully analyze the consequences of the US sanctions and their possible influence on Russia’s and Russian business’ interests. However, we can already say that they will be unable to influence our readiness and strengthen cooperation with our friend Venezuela and its people,” she said in a statement released by the ministry.
Venezuela plunged into turbulence in March, when the Venezuelan Supreme Court decided to restrict the power of the legislature. The decision was reversed amid a backlash, but supporters of the parliament, who strive for the dismissal of the court members, took to the streets, marking the start of deadly protests which have so far claimed lives of over 120 people.
On August 12, US President Donald Trump stated that the United States did not rule out the possibility of military action in Venezuela, citing a rising number of protest-related deaths in the country.
