Crisis in Venezuela: Maduro says officials of his administration met with US envoy Elliott Abrams

Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza met with Trump's administration twice in New York, Maduro said, and invited Abrams, the US envoy, to visit the country. private, in public or in secret ".

"If he wants to meet, just tell me when, where and how and I will be there," Maduro told AP, adding that he also wanted to meet with President Trump.

A spokesman for the State Department did not confirm that Maduro had sent an invitation to Abrams, but said in an e-mail to the Post Office: "It is not surprising that officials of the State Department are exchanging opinions with a large number of measures to ensure the safety of the staff of our embbady on the ground in Caracas. "

[[[[The mbadacre of Trump's envoy to Venezuela wants us to forget]

Venezuela is plunged into an increasingly serious political crisis since last month, when the leader of the opposition, Juan Guaidó, declared himself acting president. The United States and other foreign powers have recognized Guaidó as the leader of Venezuela even as Maduro, reelected in a largely disputed vote last May, refused to step down.

Recent political upheavals have emerged after years of economic crisis, including hyperinflation that has led to soaring commodity costs. Food and medicine were quickly out of reach for many Venezuelans. Millions of people have fled the country in recent years and those who remain are in the midst of a humanitarian crisis.

Maduro blamed Trump's "infected hand" for Venezuela's woes, telling the PA that the sanctions imposed by the United States on Venezuela's once-booming oil industry were the cause of unrest in the country.

The Maduro administration refuses to allow the humanitarian aid provided by the opposition to enter the country, even as millions of people are hungry. His government announced this week that he would soon receive 933 tons of "health products" from China and Cuba.

In the interview with AP, Maduro said that the aid organized by the opposition, which includes contributions from the United States, amounts to "crumbs".

"They hang us, steal our money, then say" here, grab those crumbs "and make it a global issue," he said, adding that he was not afraid of what was coming. "I am only concerned about the fate of our country and our people, our boys and our daughters. … that's what gives me energy. "

John Hudson contributed to this report.

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