Oil futures edged lower after making big gains yesterday on the U.S.’s tightening of the blockade of tankers entering or leaving Venezuela.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday told reporters that the United States is not concerned about an escalation with Russia when it comes to Venezuela, as President Donald Trump builds up military forces in the Caribbean.

The denial referred to a Monday AP report that quoted a European intelligence representative as saying that Russia had begun evacuating staff and their family members from its embassy in Venezuela.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio is weighing in on Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Hamas peace efforts and defending the Trump administration’s increasing military pressure on Venezuela during a rare, end-of-

The Russian government warned the U.S. against military action against Venezuela, saying such a move would constitute a "fatal mistake."

Oil futures added modestly to gains with market focus on efforts toward a Russia-Ukraine peace agreement and stepped up U.S. actions against Venezuela.

Oil prices held steady on Tuesday after rising more than 2% in the previous session, as the U.S. said it might sell the Venezuelan crude it has seized, while Ukraine's attacks on Russian vessels and piers heightened fears of supply disruption.

The Russian Foreign Ministry has reportedly begun evacuating the families of its diplomats from Venezuela as Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro’s hold on power grows increasingly fragile. Russia is one of Maduro’s most important allies and has continually shown solidarity with the Latin American nation during the increasing pressure campaign directed against it by President Donald