Just read a German article where Merz said pretty much the same:

"Nicolás Maduro led his country to ruin. The last election was falsified. We - like many other states in the world - therefore did not recognize the presidency. Maduro played a problematic role in the region, with unfortunate alliances worldwide and through Venezuela’s involvement in the drug business. The legal classification of the US operation is complex. We are taking our time on this. Basically, the principles of international law must apply in dealings between states. Now there must be no political instability in Venezuela It is important to ensure an orderly transition to a government legitimized by elections.”