MOSCOW, January 26. /TASS/. The United States’ "conductor’s baton" can be seen behind demands coming from some European countries to call elections in Venezuela within eight days, Russia’s Foreign Ministry said on Saturday.

"The situation around Venezuela is getting more and more alarming," the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement. "Reports are coming from some European capitals that legitimate authorities in Caracas are faced with ultimatums to organize ‘free, transparent and democratic elections’ within eight days. The demands are accompanied by a threat to recognize opposition leader Juan Guaido as new head of state."

"It is noteworthy how those ‘attack ads’ were well timed and orchestrated, just a few hours prior to the United Nations Security Council meeting on the Venezuela crisis requested by the United States," the ministry said in a statement.

"Washington’s ‘conductor’s baton’ can be clearly seen behind this," it said.

"The current events are merely whipping up intra-political tensions in the friendly Venezuela. The situation is being artificially stirred up from outside, and the most radical sentiment is being stimulated," the ministry said in a statement.

"Cynical, undisguised interference in domestic affairs of a sovereign state is underway. It should be put an end to," it said.

"For our part, we confirm readiness to facilitate a search for an understanding between responsible political forces in Venezuela in the interests of ensuring internal peace and order, speedy resolution to vital social and economic tasks. We are ready to team up with other states that share this attitude," the Russian Foreign Ministry assured.

Earlier on Saturday, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, French President Emmanuel Macron, German government spokeswoman Martina Fietz declared their countries will recognize Guaido as Venezuela’s interim president unless elections are announced within eight days. Later, UK Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt backed the demand promising the UK would recognize Guaido as Venezuela’s interim president.

Venezuela crisis

On January 23, Venezuelan parliament speaker and opposition leader Juan Guaido declared himself interim president at a rally in the country’s capital of Caracas. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, in turn, blasted the move as a coup staged by Washington and said he was severing diplomatic ties with the US.

Several countries, including the Lima Group (excluding Mexico), the United States, Albania, Georgia, Switzerland and the Organization of American States, have recognized him.

Russia, Bolivia, Iran, Cuba, Nicaragua, Salvador and Turkey voiced support for Maduro, while China and Belarus called for resolving all differences peacefully and warned against foreign interference. The United Nations secretary general, in turn, called for dialogue to resolve the crisis.