Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has told Russian state news agency RIA in an interview that he is ready for talks with the opposition, with the participation of international mediators.
"I am ready to sit at the negotiation table with the opposition for us to talk for the benefit of Venezuela, for the sake of peace and its future," RIA quoted him as saying.
Maduro later said that calls to hold early presidential elections amounted to blackmail and the countries calling for them must wait until 2025.
Asked about the possibility of third countries mediating in the standoff, Maduro was quoted as saying: "There are several governments, organisations globally, which are demonstrating their sincere concern about what is happening in Venezuela, they have called for a dialogue."
Russia is one of the staunchest supporters of Maduro and has offered to mediate. He also mentioned Mexico, Uruguay, Bolivia and the Vatican.
Maduro's remarks in an interview with RIA Novosti news agency on Wednesday came amid a dire political crisis in Venezuela.
Violent street demonstrations erupted last week after opposition leader Juan Guaido held a major rally in Caracas and declared that he had assumed presidential powers under the constitution and planned to hold fresh elections to end Maduro's "dictatorship".
Maduro, sworn in on January 10 for a second term after disputed elections last year, accuses Guaido of staging a US-directed coup against him.
Maduro's inauguration sparked protests throughout Venezuela. More than 40 people are believed to have been killed in political violence last week, UN human rights spokesman Rupert Colville said on Tuesday.
Colville said more than 850 people were detained between January 21 and January 26, including 77 children.
Most experts believe the sanctions and other measures against Maduro will encourage him to step down only if he loses the support of the powerful military, which until now has been mostly loyal to the leftist ruling party founded by late President Hugo Chavez.
