Officials of Biden administration are currently in Venezuela to discuss easing sanctions on oil imports from the country as US finalize plans to sanction Russian crude.
Both sides presented “maximalist” demands during a meeting in Caracas and made little progress in their first high-level talks in years, Persecondnews.com learnt in Washington on Monday.
Juan Gomez, the White House’s leading Latin America adviser, and US ambassador to Venezuela James Story led the US delegation in talks at Miraflores Palace with President Nicolas Maduro and Vice President Delcy Rodriguez.
US officials used the meeting to gauge whether Venezuela, one of Russia’s closest Latin American allies, is prepared to distance itself from Mr Putin after the invasion of Ukraine.
Washington wants to identify alternative oil supplies to if it is to boycott the Russian industry.
Venezuela could increase crude exports if Washington eases sanctions.
Per Second News reports petrol prices hit another record high as oil and gas costs soar amid fears of a global economic shock from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Oil jumped to $139 a barrel at one point, the highest level for almost 14 years, while wholesale gas prices for next-day delivery more than doubled.
It came as the US hinted at a ban on buying Russian energy, as it looked to other countries to increase supplies.
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