Vladimir Putin spoke on the phone with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, the Kremlin reported hours after the US seized an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela. A Kremlin statement reaffirmed support for Caracas despite increasing pressure from US President Donald Trump for Maduro to leave office.

The Kremlin said in a statement: " Vladimir Putin expressed solidarity with the Venezuelan people and reaffirmed support for the Maduro government's policies aimed at safeguarding national interests and sovereignty amid mounting external pressures."

It comes amid increasing tensions in the region, with the US carrying out a huge military build-up in the Caribbean. Their forces seized an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela on Wednesday (December 10).

Trump said it was "the largest one e

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