"In private, in public, in the United States, Venezuela or …

The President of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro, was ready today to sit down to discuss with the opposition the "peace and the future" of the country, as well as the United States, although he insisted that his partner, Donald Trump, give the order to kill him.

"I am ready, with an open agenda, to sit down with the opposition sectors to talk about the good of Venezuela, peace and the future," Maduro said in an interview. with the Russian news agency RIA Novosti. He also noted that several governments "express their sincere concern for Venezuela and have launched the idea of ​​a dialogue", such as Mexico, Uruguay, Bolivia, Russia, the Vatican and some European countries.

In addition, he said he is ready to meet with his colleague Trump privately, publicly, in the United States, Venezuela or wherever he wants, with an open agenda, all the problems. "In addition, I'm sure if we meet face-to-face and discuss, another story will be written," he said, however, saying the White House's national security advisor, John Bolton, had forbidden Trump to talk to him.

Maduro, however, returned to reject "ultimatums and blackmail" to convene presidential elections, which defends the legitimacy of the elections last May, which have not been recognized by the opposition and the international community.

Last Saturday, Spain, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Portugal gave Maduro eight days to hold elections or otherwise recognize Juan Guaidó as president. interim, which the President categorically and brutally rejected.

"In Venezuela, presidential elections have taken place, and if imperialism wants the new elections to wait 2025," said Maduro, who acknowledged that "it would be very good" to advance the legislative elections of 2020.

"I agree that the elections to the National Assembly should be advanced, by a decree of the National Constituent Assembly, and serve as an exit valve for the tension created by the coup d'etat imperialist in Venezuela ". he maintained.

Maduro also said that Trump "gave the order" to kill him. "He told the Colombian government and the Mafias of the Colombian oligarchy to kill me," he said.

The Bolivarian leader, who has so far badured that no arrest warrant has been issued against Guaidó, has preferred not to comment on whether or not he is protected from Russian private guards. "I can not say it," he replied.

He described by turns "childish" and "clowner" the notes of John Bolton in a notebook on the possible shipment of 5,000 soldiers to Colombia and accused the United States of wanting to "seize Venezuelan oil" after having imposed sanctions on Washington. state oil company Pdvsa and its American subsidiary Citgo.