Slamming President Nicolas Maduro's "corrupt, fraudulent and incompetent reign," the United States said Tuesday it would ask the UN Security Council to adopt a draft resolution demanding that humanitarian aid be allowed into Venezuela.

President Donald Trump's envoy for Venezuela, Elliott Abrams, said a vote was expected this week at the council, even though such a measure is likely to face a veto from Russia and China.

"We will have a resolution this week which will certainly call for the admission of humanitarian aid into Venezuela," Abrams told reporters ahead of the council meeting.

The push for a UN vote marked a major escalation in the US diplomatic campaign in support of Juan Guaido, the opposition leader who has declared himself interim president and is recognized by about 50 countries.

Four people died in clashes over the weekend on Venezuela's borders during a bid by Guaido to defy Maduro and bring in humanitarian aid to help Venezuelans during a dire economic crisis.

Maduro has accused the United States of using aid as a political tool, aimed at overthrowing him, and blames US sanctions for the economic turmoil in his country.

Addressing the council, Abrams called on the world to support Guaido and "address the destabilizing results of Maduro's corrupt, fraudulent and incompetent reign, which just this weekend brought instability and violence" to the borders of Brazil and Colombia.

- Veto from Russia, China -

The draft resolution is likely to face a veto from China and Russia, which support Maduro and have criticized the US stance on Venezuela as blatant interference in internal affairs.

Resolutions at the Security Council, which are legally binding, must garner nine votes and no vetoes from the five permanent members -- Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States -- to be adopted.

Asked about a possible veto, Abrams said: "I think it would be shameful to veto a resolution that calls for humanitarian aid."

Russia's Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia attacked the United States for creating "a spectacle around Venezuela," dismissing calls to recognize Guaido as an "egregious, blatant, arrogant trampling of international law."

Chinese Ambassador Ma Zhaoxu stated bluntly that his government "opposes foreign interference" in Venezuela's affairs, "opposes military intervention" and opposes using humanitarian aid "for political purposes to create instability or even turbulence inside Venezuela and in neighbouring regions."

Guaido, who heads the opposition-led National Assembly, declared himself acting president on January 23, arguing that Maduro had lost legitimacy as head of state.

Earlier this month, the United States began discussing a draft resolution that would call for humanitarian aid and credible presidential elections with international observers, prompting Russia to present a counterproposal.

Russia's text criticizes "attempts to intervene" in Venezuela and expresses concern over threats of force after Trump said all options were on the table to address the Venezuela crisis.

Taking aim at the United States, Venezuela's Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza accused the Trump administration of having a "script to justify war" and urged the council to adopt a text opposing the use of force.

Venezuela's economy is in a tailspin marked by hyperinflation and shortages of basic necessities that the opposition blames on corruption and mismanagement by the Maduro government.

Millions of Venezuelans have been left struggling with poverty, while 3.4 million have fled the country since 2015, unleashing a migration crisis in South America.

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