Rubio told his G7 colleagues about the importance of preparing for the elections in Venezuela

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the need to prepare for the elections in Venezuela during consultations with the heads of the G7 diplomatic agencies. This was announced on January 6 by Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand on the social network X.

It is noted that Rubio emphasized the need to release political prisoners, as well as create conditions for planning upcoming elections and the normal functioning of democracy in Venezuela. The diplomat noted that during political events, the people of the country will have to elect a new "legitimate president."

According to Anand, the participants in the consultations agreed to continue a joint dialogue on the importance of international law. In addition, the parties discussed the issue of security guarantees for Ukraine.

Hotly contested: how the United States is building relations with Venezuela after Maduro's arrest

Washington expects to achieve full access of American companies to the oil infrastructure

Earlier in the day, the Russian Foreign Ministry issued a statement that Russia welcomes the efforts of the Venezuelan authorities to protect state sovereignty and national interests. Russia expressed its readiness to continue supporting Venezuela and reaffirmed its position on the country's right to determine its own fate without external interference. The Russian Foreign Ministry also called for de-escalation of the situation and solving problems through dialogue, stressing that Latin America should remain a zone of peace.

Venezuela's Executive Vice President Delcy Rodriguez took the oath of office as interim president on January 5. On January 4, the Supreme Court of Venezuela recognized her as acting president.

On January 3, US President Donald Trump announced that the United States had successfully launched a large-scale strike against Venezuela. He noted that the President of the republic, Nicolas Maduro, and his wife, Celia Flores, were captured and taken away from the territory of the state. The Russian Foreign Ministry called on the US leadership to release Maduro.

All important news is on the Izvestia channel in the MAX messenger.