MOSCOW, Jan. 9 (Xinhua) -- Deputy Chairman of Russia's Security Council Dmitry Medvedev on Friday sharply criticized recent U.S. actions, saying the world has entered a period of extreme instability and confrontation.
In a Telegram post, Medvedev called the U.S. military operation in Venezuela and the seizure of President Nicolas Maduro a "universal catastrophe in international relations," saying the year had begun turbulently.
Medvedev said oil lay at the center of the crisis, warning that U.S. efforts to secure long-term access to Venezuela's energy resources risk further escalation. ■