Kremlin says US not to 'worry' about Russia-Venezuela ties

Russia said Thursday its troops will stay in Venezuela "for as long as needed" and urged the United States not to worry about Moscow's ties with a traditional ally.

Russian President Vladimir Putin's aide spoke after US President Donald Trump demanded that Russia remove its military from the crisis-stricken country.

President Nicolas Maduro is presiding over economic chaos, with the oil-rich country unable to provide basic medical and food supplies to much of the population.

"We don't think that third countries should worry about our bilateral ties," said Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov.

"We are not interfering in Venezuela's domestic affairs in any way and we expect third countries to follow our example and allow Venezuelans to decide their fate themselves," he told reporters.

Peskov said no one told the US how to conduct its foreign policy and Moscow expected the same treatment and "mutual respect".

He said Russia was sending military equipment and experts to Venezuela under ...