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Alyaksandr Lukashenka met today with the Ambassador of Venezuela to Russia, Jesus Rafael Salazar Velasquez. According to Lukashenka’s remarks, the diplomat returned to him after holding talks with Nicolás Maduro.
“Quite recently we discussed a range of problems in our relations and the situation around Venezuela. At that time, we agreed that you should coordinate certain issues with the leadership of Venezuela — with Nicolás Maduro. We agreed that once these problems and issues were coordinated, you would find time to come to me again, so that we could take the appropriate decision within our competence. And if needed, we will then involve the President of Venezuela,” his press service quoted Lukashenka as saying.
Alyaksandr Lukashenka had previously met with Velasquez on 25 November. Back then, he asked the ambassador to convey to Nicolás Maduro that he is always welcome in Belarus.
“These are troubled, difficult and challenging times, but nevertheless, a way out can be found from any situation. One must only strive for it,” Alyaksandr Lukashenka said at that meeting.
Since their November meeting, information has emerged about a conversation between Nicolás Maduro and U.S. President Donald Trump. Media reported that Maduro had been offered to leave Venezuela. He was reportedly prepared to step down in a year and a half, but the U.S. side allegedly found this unacceptable. At the end of November and in early December, the United States continued to increase pressure on Venezuela. On Wednesday, Donald Trump announced the seizure of a sanctioned oil tanker off the Venezuelan coast.
Before that, the Pentagon announced an operation against narcotraffickers. Vessels carrying illegal substances had been destroyed. Media continue to discuss the possibility of a U.S. ground operation in Venezuela. Donald Trump himself has not ruled out strikes on land-based drug cartel facilities.