Russian’s Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has claimed the US and its NATO allies are discussing plans on how to arm the opposition in Venezuela and oust Mr Maduro from presidency. Moscow has also claimed the US is delivering military equipment disguised as aid deliveries with plans to engage in “dangerous provocation”.
She said: “It seems that in Washington there is nothing to mark the fifth anniversary of the coup d’etat in Ukraine, so they decided to hold a new coup d’etat.”
She also warned that a US military intervention would lead to a “sharp increase in tensions” in the world.
However, a top US official said Russia was making a “senseless accusation” and distributing “propaganda”.
The official, who wishes to remain anonymous, told reporters: “There’s no truth to that.”
Russia has declared support for Mr Maduro’s government, repeatedly accusing the US of planning military action against the President.
Ms Zakhorava has also accused Venezuela’s opposition Juan Guaido’s of bringing US supplies across the Columbian border to provoke clashes and allow “a convenient pretext for conducting military action”.
On Thursday, Mr Guaido set out in a convoy to collect US-supplied food and medicine, promising to bring aid by Saturday.
However, Mr Maduro has closed off the border with Brazil, preventing humanitarian aid from arriving in the country.
The President has also stepped up military security along the Colombian border to monitor the arrival of supplies.
Mr Maduro has denied a crisis in Venezuela, despite the state facing mass food shortages, lack of medicine supplies and rising inflation rates.
Earlier last month, Mr Maduro declared himself Venezuela’s new interim President, with – causing a worldwide backlash as US President Donald Trump pledged his support for opposition leader Mr Guaido.
British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt slammed Mr Maduro for closing Venezuela’s borders as “disgusting and wholly unacceptable.”