Charles Baines

In a statement, Russia's foreign ministry called the Trump administration's pretext for attacking Venezuela unfounded and said the U.S.

actions marked an unacceptable assault on Venezuela's sovereignty.

Despite such expressions of support, Moscow has stopped short of challenging the U.S.

more forcefully amid a months-long pressure campaign by the Trump administration against the Venezuelan leadership.

The Kremlin reportedly rebuffed a request by Nicolas Maduro for direct military assistance in the fall, a result, analysts say, of Moscow's desire to maintain good relations with the Trump administration as it tries to broker its own peace deal for Russia's war in Ukraine.

Charles Baines, NPR News, Moscow.

This is the sixth time Witkoff has met in person with Putin since President Trump tasked him with resolving the Ukraine crisis back in January.

This time, the billionaire businessman turned presidential envoy comes bearing a new draft peace plan, one initially criticized for being overly favorable to Russia and since revised with input from Ukraine and its European allies.

It remains unclear whether Putin will accept those changes.

In comments last week, Putin said he remained open to the U.S.

proposal in theory,

But the Kremlin leader also conditioned any lasting peace on Ukraine withdrawing from territory claimed but not controlled by Moscow, despite more than three years of heavy fighting.

Charles Baines, NPR News, Moscow.

This is the sixth time Witkoff has met in person with Putin since President Trump tasked him with resolving the Ukraine crisis back in January.

This time, the billionaire businessman turned presidential envoy comes bearing a new draft peace plan, one initially criticized for being overly favorable to Russia and since revised with input from Ukraine and its European allies.

It remains unclear whether Putin will accept those changes.

In comments last week, Putin said he remained open to the U.S.

proposal in theory, but the Kremlin leader also conditioned any lasting peace on Ukraine withdrawing from territory claimed but not controlled by Moscow, despite more than three years of heavy fighting.

Charles Baines, NPR News, Moscow.

This is the sixth time Witkoff has met in person with Putin since President Trump tasked him with resolving the Ukraine crisis back in January.