Chancellor Nicolás Maduro assured Moscow that Venezuela was "ready" to resist and defeat a US military attack

"We are ready for any scenario, the first is that of diplomacy, dialogue, peace, we reach out so that we can talk with everyone," said Jorge Arreaza, the day after a interview with his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov. .

But if the United States "opted for the army, we would have an armed force, a people, a national militia, who would be able not only to resist and fight, but even to defeat and defeat any army, also mighty be it world "added the Venezuelan minister. If this badumption occurs, "we are ready"he insisted.

In addition, the diplomat launched a dart at the faction led by Juan Guaidó, recognized interim president by more than 50 countries: "The opposition can not talk to us because it does not have permission from the United States" .

The United States has decided to "collapse the economy and have begun to strengthen the sanctions," denounced the Venezuelan Minister of Foreign Affairs. It's "a unilateral criminal blockade," accused Arreaza.

The situation in Venezuela has worsened after last week's military uprising led by Guaidó. US authorities launched a campaign last week to increase pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that President Donald Trump was willing, if necessary, to form the army in Venezuela.

On Sunday, Lavrov called on the United States and its allies to "abandon their irresponsible plans and act exclusively within the framework of international law".

Arreaza also said Monday that Caracas was developing "Alternatives to financial trading systems" with their Russian and Chinese allies to describe the US blockade. In this sense, the Foreign Minister affirmed that a Venezuelan delegation would be present at the meeting. St. Petersburg Economic Forum in June, mentioning a possible participation of Maduro.

"Of course, Venezuela will participate in SPIEF, we have not yet defined the delegation, I wish that the President (Nicolás Maduro) can travel, he would like – I am sure – to go to Saint Petersburg and meet there with his brother, President Vladimir Putin"he said.

(With information from AFP)