Venezuela’s Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza stressed on Monday that President Nicolas Maduro may visit the Russian city of St Petersburg next month to attend an economic forum there.

Venezuela’s Information Minister Jorge Rodriguez says the government is confronting a small group of “military traitors” who are seeking to promote a coup against President Nicolas Maduro.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has thanked the country's military, saying it has defeated a "coup" led by the US administration and opposition leader Juan Guaido.

Caracas is well aware the US is actually leading an effort to topple President Nicolas Maduro, but is ready to sit down with the Western-backed opposition and could be doing so “in half an hour”, the Venezuela’s foreign minister stated.

The president of Venezuela's opposition-led National Assembly, Juan Guaido, has declared himself interim president of the country and was immediately recognized by the United States, which is accused by Caracas of plotting to topple President Nicolas Maduro.