US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called on Russia to "stop unconstructive behavior" in Venezuela during a phone talk with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov.

According to US State Department spokesman Robert Palladino State Department spokesman Robert Palladino, Pompeo and Lavrov discussed the situation in Venezuela during the conversation. Palladino noted, Pompeo told Lavrov that "the United States and the  regional countries will not stand idly by as Russia exacerbates tensions in Venezuela." 

The State Department statement also condemned Russian military support for the “illegitimate regime of Nicolas Maduro.”

Juan Guaido, Venezuelan opposition leader and parliament speaker declared himself interim president of Venezuela. The United States, a number of European and Latin American countries recognized Guaido as the president of Venezuela. 

Russia and China consider President Nicolas Maduro to be the legitimate president of the country.