Arafat Hasan: Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro said on Wednesday he was willing to “shake hands” with his US counterpart Donald Trump “despite the differences”.
The socialist leader made an unexpected visit to the UN General Assembly in New York to “defend his country”.
“Despite the differences… I would be willing to reach out my hand to the president of the United States, Donald Trump, to discuss matters bilaterally,” said Maduro. During his prolonged address, he stressed that he was “a worker, a driver, a man of the people” and “not a magnate”.
Six nations have accused him of crimes against humanity, while Trump has hinted at military action against Venezuela on top of existing sanctions.
On Tuesday, the US treasury imposed financial sanctions on Venezuela’s First Lady, which the socialist called “illegal unilateral sanctions”.
President Trump had earlier said he was willing to meet Maduro. However the US leader also told journalists “all options are on the table” because “I want to see Venezuela straightened out”.
Venezuela has been in a dire economic crisis since 2014. An estimated 2.3 million citizens have fled hyperinflation, power cuts, and food and medicine shortages.
-Source: BBC