The American side held talks with the Minister of Internal Affairs of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Diosdado Cabello, a few months before the military operation of US President Donald Trump to capture the President of the republic, Nicolas Maduro. This was reported on January 17 by Reuters, citing informed sources.
"Representatives of the Trump administration held talks with ... Diosdado Cabello several months before the US operation to capture President Nicolas Maduro and have been in touch with him ever since," the material says.
One of the interlocutors of the publication said that as part of the contacts, the Venezuelan Interior Minister received a warning, according to which Washington forbade him to use force against the opposition in the country. It is emphasized that Cabello remained unharmed as a result of the operation — he was not captured in the wake of Maduro, although he was also mentioned in the US charges of alleged drug trafficking.
The parties' interaction was carried out, according to another source, both directly and through intermediaries. Currently, the dialogue has not been terminated, Izvestia clarifies.