Trump is scheduled to make a statement after today’s Cabinet meeting, amid tensions with Venezuela and negotiations with Ukraine

• “We do not want peace for the slaves”: Maduro defends Venezuela’s sovereignty amid military escalation with the United States
• The second day of negotiations: Ukraine sees significant progress with the United States toward ending the war, but calls for adjustments

According to the president’s general schedule, released by the White House, Trump will make an “announcement.” But the government did not inform the subject of the announcement.

Last Monday, Trump met with the National Security Council to discuss the Venezuela issue. The White House confirms that the American operation – which includes dozens of warships and about 15,000 soldiers, in addition to the largest aircraft carrier in the world, in the Caribbean – aims to combat drug smuggling, while Caracas sees it as an attempt to pressure Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro to leave power.

The US President confirmed on Sunday that he spoke by phone with Maduro last week.

– I don’t want to comment on that, the answer is yes – the US President told reporters aboard Air Force One. – I wouldn’t say it was good or bad. It was a call.

In recent days, tensions rose after Maduro sent a letter to the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), in which he accused the United States of making “continuous and explicit threats” and seeking to seize Venezuela’s oil reserves “by force.” According to him, such threats jeopardize the stability of oil production in Venezuela, which has some of the largest reserves in the world.

Also last Monday, the head of the Ukrainian Security and Defense Council and the main negotiator with the United States to end the war, Rustam Omerov, said that the round of talks with American officials in Miami had achieved “significant progress,” but still needed “adjustments.” In recent days, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, whose government is facing a corruption scandal, declared his confidence that dialogue with Washington could eventually accelerate a ceasefire.

• I’m still here: Maduro denies rumors that he has left Venezuela and reappears in Caracas after days of silence

Umarov said in a post on social media: “In two very productive days in the United States, we made great progress, although some points still need adjustments,” adding that he agreed with the American representatives to maintain “permanent” contact.