Daily Mail: Russia condemns 'illegal' US sanctions on Venezuelan oil and China warns against 'external interference' amid warnings the South American country faces 'imminent open war'
* Moscow slam US sanctions against Venezuela's state oil company as 'illegal'
* Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said they 'violate all possible international norms'
* Lavrov promised that Russia will 'do everything to support President Maduro'
* China warned US sanctions will complicate the situation in the crisis-hit country
* Opposition leader Juan Guaido said he hoped for a peaceful transition, but echoed US President Donald Trump when he said 'all options are on the table'
* Ex-President of Uruguay José Mujica said Venezuela faces 'imminent open war'
* Mujica said Trump declaring a military option as on the table had 'the smell of oil'
Russia has condemned US sanctions against Venezuela's state oil company as 'illegal' while China has warned they will hurt the livelihoods of ordinary people and complicate the situation in the crisis-hit country.
The sanctions will hit state-owned PDVSA, Venezuela's largest source of revenue, as President Nicolas Maduro faces a challenge from opposition leader Juan Guaido, who has won the backing of the US and other Western nations.
The warnings from Beijing have been echoed by the former president of Uruguay, José Mujica, who said 'the drums of war are sounding strong,' and that Venezuela is facing 'imminent open conflict'.
Read more ....
Update: Russia and China condemn new US sanctions on Venezuela (CNBC)
WNU Editor: The Russians are upset over U.S. sanctions on Venezuela's state oil company PDVSA because they own 49% of the company, and now their investment is tied-up. Russia is also facing the sobering reality that their debts may not be repaid .... Russia expects Venezuela will struggle to repay its debts to Moscow (Reuters). More here .... Russia expects Venezuela to have trouble repaying loan (AP). As for the Chinese who are owed even more money .... China says US should bear consequences of Venezuela sanctions (Straits Times).
