Overview
- The UN human rights office said the intervention in Venezuela violated international law, while China accused Washington of undermining global stability and urged the immediate release of Nicolás Maduro and Cilia Flores, a call echoed by Russia.
- Maduro and his wife are in US custody in New York after a reported US operation in Caracas, facing narcotics-related charges with a court hearing set for March 17.
- During the Caracas events, agencies reported blasts, aircraft over the city and power outages, and Venezuelan authorities announced emergency measures.
- In Paris, countries in the “coalition of willing” discussed a multinational force of roughly 15,000–30,000 to monitor a cease-fire in Ukraine, with France and the UK expected to provide most troops and Turkey to secure Black Sea routes, and Bloomberg reported talks on a possible US role after hostilities.
- Signals diverged on the war’s trajectory as a US NATO representative said a peace deal is “practically ready,” Russia’s defense ministry claimed advances and heavy Ukrainian losses, and Kherson authorities reinstated a Christmas curfew after a deadly attack in Khorly.