U.S. Secretary of State Michael Pompeo criticized the Russian government for sending “bombers halfway around the world” to Venezuela.

It’s “absolutely inappropriate” for Pompeo to call the Russian government corrupt, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters Tuesday on a conference call. After U.S. President Donald Trump last week criticized the secretary of state’s predecessor, Rex Tillerson, “maybe such an assessment will follow concerning the undiplomatic remarks of Mr. Pompeo,” Peskov said.

A group of Russian military planes crossed the Atlantic Ocean and landed in Venezuela, the Russian state news agency TASS reported earlier, citing a Defense Ministry statement. According to the ministry, two strategic Tu-160 bombers, an An-124 cargo plane and a long-range Il-62 jet airliner were among aircraft that landed at Maiquetia airport outside Caracas on Monday.

Related: Russia sends two nuclear-capable bombers to Venezuela

The U.S. and European Union have led an effort to impose sanctions on Venezuela as they seek to isolate the country on the world stage. The U.S. has accused Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro of undermining democratic institutions amid the country’s growing political and economic crisis.

After meeting with President Vladimir Putin in Moscow earlier this month, Maduro said he secured support from Russia to increase oil production by 1 million barrels a day, as well as for mining investments and maintenance of weapons and defense systems