Russia and China pledge support for Venezuela as Trump ratchets up pressure on Maduro

Trump again called for Venezuela's president to leave power and said the US would keep or sell the oil it had seized

China and Russia have expressed support for Venezuela as it confronts a US blockade of sanctioned oil tankers, while Donald Trump continues to ramp up his pressure campaign on the South American country's president, Nicolas Maduro.

Amid reports of slowing activity at Venezuelan ports, the US president again called for Maduro to leave power, and reiterated that the US would keep or sell the oil it had seized off the coast of Venezuela in recent weeks.