US Says Constructive Steps Needed for Venezuela Sanctions Relief
- Maduro must first agree to ‘fair elections,’ Blinken says
- Oil and economic sanctions imposed in 2019 remain in force
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The US is willing to reconsider Venezuela sanctions only if President Nicolas Maduro takes “constructive steps” to restore democracy, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Thursday, reiterating that he’s seen no such progress so far.
“There is no change in our sanctions policy,” Blinken told a press conference in the Peruvian capital of Lima. He said sanctions relief would require genuine progress in negotiations with the opposition and free and fair elections.