The US raid on Venezuela has exposed the limits of ties between Moscow and Caracas – while pointing the way for potential strategic opportunities for Russia’s Vladimir Putin in Washington’s new era of gunboat diplomacy.

Exiled journalist Evgeny Safronov, 38, fled Russia amid Vladimir Putin's crackdown on press freedom - and has now been found dead after falling from the window of his flat

A studio official said the president's appearance in Prostokvashino would be a form of "soft power" that would help promote Russia and its culture.

President Vladimir Putin attended an early Wednesday Russian Orthodox Christmas service and hailed his troops' “holy mission” to defend Russia, pairing the ceremony with a holiday address on unity, charity and support for the armed forces.

President Trump's actions in Venezuela also are causing unease in Western nations and giving the Kremlin fresh talking points to defend its war in Ukraine.

President Trump refuted the Kremlin’s accusations that Ukraine targeted a residence of Russian strongman Vladimir Putin, doubting such an attack ever took place.

Russian energy majors secured tenders to explore Venezuelan oilfields, while Caracas began what ultimately became an $11bn splurge on Russian arms such as 100,000 Kalashnikov assault rifles, dozens of fighter jets and attack helicopters.

In the firing of an Oreshnik ballistic missile at Ukraine in 2024, Russia struck an aerospace factory in the central Ukrainian city of Dnipro. But it caused only minimal damage as it carried dummy warheads, suggesting a purely symbolic use of the weapon.

Holder of an opaque fortune estimated among the highest in the world, Vladimir Putin is also the owner (official or otherwise) of several luxury secondary residences. An investigation by the FBK, the anti-corruption foundation of his deceased opponent Alexei Navalny,

Trump has pushed Russia out of Latin America and seized tankers while conceding nothing in Europe.