"The issue of foreign invasion is not raised by us. We drew attention to the assumptions that were made by senior American leaders. We believe that in this case, the task is to prevent external influences, especially military, on the internal situation in Venezuela," Shchetinin said.
READ MORE: Spain Urges Early Election in Venezuela — Foreign Minister
He said the situation in Venezuela was up to the country's citizens to decide and called for the peaceful and constitutional settlement of the crisis.
"We are pleased to note that the overwhelming majority of regional, Latin American actors take the same position on the inadmissibility of any external armed intervention in the situation — by the way, regardless of the position they adhere to in relation to the Maduro government," Shchetinin said.
The diplomat went on saying that Russia has had no contacts and does not plan any with Venezuelan parliament speaker Juan Guaido, whom a few countries have recognized as Venezuela's head of state.
"We have said that if our efforts are requested, we are ready to [mediate the crisis]," the diplomat added.
Political Crisis in Venezuela
Guaido's interim presidency has been supported by around a dozen countries, mostly Latin American ones, and the United States, Canada and France as well. In turn, Nicolas Maduro claimed that he was the country's constitutional president and called the opposition leader a puppet manipulated by the United States.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that recent events in Venezuela were a gross violation of the country's sovereignty. Moscow has warned the US against the military actions in the country and noted that Washington was interfering in Venezuela's internal affairs.
The views and opinions expressed by the speaker do not necessarily reflect those of Sputnik.
