Article content continued

“They know,” Trump said when asked if he had conveyed to the Russians his feelings about their involvement in Venezuela. “They know very well.”

After issuing new rounds of sanctions and revoking hundreds of visas in hopes of pressuring Maduro to leave office, the Trump administration already faced an uphill battle. But Maduro has shown little sign of leaving office, and in recent days his security officials arrested Roberto Marrero, Guaidó’s chief of staff, on terrorism charges. On Tuesday, the State Department issued another warning to the Maduro government in response to reports that Guaidó’s motorcade had come under assault by gangs loyal to Maduro.

On top of this, Russia shows little sign of tamping down its involvement based on Trump’s warnings. The landing of two Russian planes this week was done in broad daylight, and carried supplies and technical advisers to the Venezuelan capital, according to Russian news reports.

They know. They know very well

Maria Zakharova, a spokeswoman for Russia’s Foreign Ministry, accused the United States of trying to stage a “coup” in the country and argued that the presence of Russian personnel was protected by the Venezuelan Constitution.

“We would like to remind U.S. politicians that they live in the 21st rather than 19th century,” Zakharova told reporters on Tuesday. “Venezuela is a sovereign state and a U.N. member. Its sovereignty is equal to Washington’s.”

In the Oval Office on Wednesday, Trump said his administration was still considering the possibility of military intervention — “all options are open,” he said when asked what would happen if Russia did not leave. Trump also publicly lamented that the situation in Venezuela only added to the international “mess” left to him by his predecessors.

“Past administrations allowed this to happen,” Trump said as Rosales looked on. “I’ve inherited a mess, between North Korea and all of the problems we have all over the world.”

Trump added, “But I’ll fix it.”

Despite the Trump administration’s warnings, the only concrete option on the table appears to be more sanctions. Asked during congressional testimony Wednesday whether the administration was ready to impose them, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo replied that it was.

When pressed for more details, he said, “I prefer not to get out ahead of what we’re prepared to sanction.”