Critics have said a US oil embargoEmbargowill not help Washington to oust Maduro , but will create more hardship for the Venezuelan people , who are suffering from food and medical shortagesShortage.
A U.S. law dating back to oil shortagesShortageof the 1970s generally barsProhibitingexports of domestically produced crude , but shipments to Canada are allowed , as are re-exports of foreign oil .
At that time a prosperous Russia was grappling with fuel shortagesShortage.