A prominent Russian lawmaker has suggested that Moscow could supply Venezuela with advanced weapons systems, including the new Oreshnik ballistic missile, as Caracas desperately seeks military assistance amid the escalating US military build-up in the Caribbean.

Alexei Zhuravlyov, first deputy chairman of the Russian State Duma's defence committee, told the Russian outlet Gazeta.ru that he saw "no obstacles" to providing Venezuela with cutting-edge military technology. "I don't see any obstacles to supplying a friendly country with new developments like the Oreshnik," he said, adding that Russia remains Caracas's primary military supplier, delivering "virtually the entire range of weapons, from small arms to aircraft".

The comments come after Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro appealed directly to Russian President Vladimir Putin for urgent military assistance, including delivery of 14 missile units and restoration of Russian-made Sukhoi Su-30MK2 fighter aircraft, according to internal US government documents cited by the Washington Post.

Zhuravlyov confirmed that Moscow has already delivered several divisions of S-300VM surface-to-air missile systems to Venezuela, alongside Pantsir-S1 and Buk-M2E systems. He noted that Russian Su-30MK2 fighters form "the backbone of the Venezuelan Air Force, making it one of the most powerful air powers in the region".

The deputy said that details of weapons deliveries remain classified, warning that "the Americans could be in for some surprises". He added that no international obligations prevent Russia from supplying Venezuela with long-range weapons, including Kalibr cruise missile systems.

A Russian Ilyushin Il-76 cargo aircraft operated by Aviacon Zitotrans, a company under US sanctions for alleged arms trafficking and support for mercenary transport, landed in Managua on October 29 after departing from Havana with a stop in Caracas. Nicaragua, Cuba and Venezuela are Russia's closest allies in the region.

The Il-76, among the world’s largest cargo planes with a 50 tonnes capacity, reportedly travelled with its transponder switched off for part of the route to avoid detection, according to Flightradar data.

The aircraft, whose cargo remains unknown, had previously operated between Caracas and Havana on October 28, and two days earlier, it had arrived in Venezuela from Mauritania after making stops in Senegal, Morocco, Algeria, and Armenia.

Meanwhile, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova offered words of support to the Chavista regime at a press briefing last week. "We are in contact with our [Venezuelan] partners. We are prepared to continue responding appropriately to their requests, considering existing and potential threats," she said, adding that both nations would continue "working side by side, looking to the future with serenity and confidence.

But analysts are sceptical about Moscow's ability or willingness to provide substantial military support to Caracas. Russia remains deeply committed to its war in Ukraine, which has stretched its military and industrial capacity, whilst the embattled Venezuelan leader ranks low among the Kremlin's priorities and is unlikely to receive more than diplomatic backing.

"To put it bluntly, there is nothing much Russia can do, if the USA is determined to try and bring Maduro down, beyond diplomatic overtures," said Mark Galeotti, an author, Russia analyst, and honorary professor at University College London's School of Slavonic and East European Studies, as quoted by RFE/RL.

Additionally, President Donald Trump's renewed military focus on the Western Hemisphere may paradoxically benefit Putin by diverting attention away from Ukraine.

"The fact that we've moved over 10% of our naval assets to the Caribbean is already a win, in some regards, for Putin," James Story, a former US ambassador to Venezuela, previously told the Washington Post. "Our renewed interest in all things Western Hemisphere divides our attention on Ukraine. And that's a good thing for Putin."

The Kremlin's dismal track record with allied strongmen offers scant comfort: former Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad received negligible Russian help when overthrown last December, ultimately fleeing to Moscow, where the Kremlin has since moved on to cultivating ties with Syria's new leadership.

The Russian statements come as the Trump administration has drawn up a list of potential military targets within Venezuela, examining facilities including harbours, landing strips and naval installations that Washington alleges serve dual purposes – ostensibly military whilst facilitating cocaine shipments.

The Pentagon's decision to position the USS Gerald R. Ford carrier group in Caribbean waters significantly expands Washington's military options in the region, adding thousands of additional personnel and dozens of combat aircraft to a force that already numbers more than 10,000 troops.

The Washington Post reported that Maduro has also reached out to China and Iran to deepen cooperation in surveillance, GPS-jamming and long-range drone technologies.

Russia ratified a new strategic treaty with Venezuela earlier this year that deepens military and political cooperation between the two countries. In July, a munitions factory was opened in the state of Aragua – a project that had been under construction for nearly two decades. Moscow has also gained rights to explore natural gas and oil deposits valued at billions of dollars, though Russian oil investment has been on hold for several years amid Venezuela’s economic collapse.

Despite Trump's official denials of imminent military action, American bomber aircraft have conducted multiple flights near Venezuelan airspace in recent weeks, operations that defence analysts interpret as reconnaissance missions to assess the country's air defence capabilities.

The White House doubled its reward for information leading to Maduro's arrest to $50mn in August, whilst also offering bounties for senior officials including the interior and defence ministers, both of whom face American drug trafficking indictments.

Maduro – who is not recognised as a legitimate leader by the US, its western partners and many countries in the region following the July 2024 disputed presidential election – has refuted Washington’s allegations, claiming the actions against his country are intended to "justify a war, regime change, and the theft of Venezuela's immense oil and gas wealth".

During his weekly programme on state TV, Maduro said that Russia-Venezuela bilateral relations are now "at their highest point," driven by both countries' "multipolar vision of diplomacy."