Germany is ready to recognize US-backed opposition leader Juan Guaido as Venezuela's interim president unless new elections are held, government spokesman Steffen Seibert said Friday.

"Venezuela needs free and fair elections now. In EU meetings, the German government is now speaking out for recognizing Juan Guaido as interim president of the country if such free and fair elections are not held swiftly," Seibert told journalists.

EU level talks on the Venezuela crisis were ongoing, said Seibert.

German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said on Thursday that Berlin is "not neutral, we stand on Guaido's side because we have big problems with recognising" the reelection of Nicolas Maduro.

"It is publicly known that there were so many election law violations that one can only speak of a limited democratic vote."