“The priority of our rapprochement with Maduro, who we do not recognize as the leader of Venezuela, but is keeping American citizens in prison, was to bring American citizens home,” Saki told his daily news conference.
Two Americans imprisoned in Venezuela were released on Tuesday after a US delegation visited Caracas last weekend, where they also discussed the energy crisis caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Saki stressed that the “priority” of the visit was the release of prisoners and that “various issues” were also discussed, including demanding that Maduro “walk towards peace” in Venezuela and the issue of energy.
The spokesman stressed that Venezuela is one of the world’s largest oil producers, although he clarified that at this time there were no talks on the “import” of Venezuelan crude into the United States or the lifting of sanctions against the country’s oil sector. Is. mother-father.
In recent days, several media outlets have reported that US President Joe Biden is considering lifting sanctions imposed on Venezuela’s oil sector by his predecessor Donald Trump to control oil prices following the Russian invasion of Ukraine. .
Talks between the United States, which has recognized opposition leader Juan Guaidó as Venezuela’s interim president since 2019, and the Maduro government coincide with a visit to Washington by Colombian President Ivan Duque this Thursday.
At a press conference in the US Congress, Duke declined to comment on Washington’s relationship with Caracas, saying his country maintains “a consistent line of foreign policy” with regard to Venezuela, including the “dictatorship of Nicolas Maduro”. includes condemnation. EFE
