Venezuela uprising: Russia responds to Pompeo's claims; Cuba rejects Trump's 'sanctions and embargo' threat

Russia has rubbished US Secretary of State Micheal R Pompeo's claim of the country having persuaded Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro not to leave the country."Washington tried it's best to demoralize the Venezuelan army and now used fakes as a part of information war," Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova told CNN.Pompeo had claimed that Maduro was preparing to leave the country for Cuba amid calls for his ouster, but the Russians talked him out of it.Ever since the civil unrest and political chaos began in Venezuela, Russia has stood by the embattled regime headed by Maduro, and often criticised the US for interfering in the country.Amid the uprising, United States President Donald Trump had threatened to impose "highest level sanctions" together with an embargo against Cuba if it continued its military support to Maduro.However, Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel, who "strongly rejected" Trump's threat, denied the presence of Cuban troops in Venezuela."We strongly