Vladimir Putin has offered his support to Venezuela amid growing tensions between Donald Trump 's administration and the South American country's leader, Nicolás Maduro. The Kremlin said in a statement that Putin spoke with Mr Maduro by phone and re-affirmed his support for the policy stand taken by the Venezuelan leader in the face of growing external pressure.

The call on Thursday (December 11) came a day after US forces seized an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela in the latest tactic from Mr Trump's administration to ramp up pressure on Mr Maduro, who has been charged with narco-terrorism in the United States . Caracas said in a statement that Putin told Mr Maduro that direct communication between Russia and Venezuela would remain permanently open and the Krem

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