The need for the EU and the US to provide Russia with alternative energy supplies is affecting every continent, accelerating negotiations that seemed to have stalled just a few months ago. As part of a diplomatic forum in the Turkish city of Antalya, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell and Venezuelan Foreign Minister Felix Placencia met this Saturday in St. Petersburg. These included the consequences of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the oil trade and the possibility of lifting sanctions if Caracas takes certain steps towards a democratic dialogue. Borrell and Placencia told EL PAÍS that the meeting had gone “well”.
According to the Venezuelan side, these sanctions should be lifted in order to normalize relations and trade in hydrocarbons. “They are unacceptable and violate international law and the dynamism of civilized countries,” Placencia said. Asked about recent contacts between the US and the Maduro government to explore the possibility of easing sanctions in exchange for the resumption of purchases of Venezuelan oil, the Venezuelan foreign minister replied: “We have an oil trade relationship with the United States. . U.S. 100 years. We didn’t cancel, they forced coercive measures. Now they want to go back. “Well, if they recognize that the only legitimate government in Venezuela is President Nicolás Maduro, welcome to the US and European oil companies.”
Sources from Borrell’s team explained that the geopolitical earthquake triggered by the Ukraine crisis opened up an “opportunity” and that they saw a “receiving side” for Venezuela to meet European demands. In the latest UN vote to condemn Russian aggression against Ukraine, Nicolás Maduro’s government abstained, as did other Russian allies such as Syria or Belarus. European sources believe that Caracas has a “more pragmatic” stance and that if progress is made in the dialogue between the Mexican and Venezuelan opposition and towards an “open and fair electoral process”, sanctions could be lifted. Or softened. applied to Venezuela in recent years after the crackdown on anti-government protests.
However, the White House had already warned on Thursday that his administration would not recognize Maduro as “the leader of Venezuela” and would retain the recognition in lieu of Juan Guaidó, who officially became president in January 2019. The aim is to reduce the main source from Russia. Financing – the sale of gas and oil – requires the search for new supplies, which has forced Western foreign ministries to look for alternatives, accelerating diplomatic movements in various directions.
Venezuela tries to seize the opportunity and lets itself go. Turkish Foreign Minister and Venezuelan Vice President Delsi Rodriguez, who was in Antalya from Thursday to Friday, met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoღlu; Featuring the United Nations High Representative of the Alliance of Civilizations, Miguel მორngel Moratino, and the former President of Spain, José Luis Rodr .guez, who previously mediated with the Maduro government.
Source: La Neta Neta
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