US, Russia hold talks on situation in Venezuela

The U.S. and Russia remained at odds on Tuesday over the legitimacy of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro following talks in Rome.

The Trump administration’s special envoy to Venezuela, Elliott Abrams, said differences remained following talks with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov on the situation in the Latin American nation.

“We did not come to a meeting of the minds, but the talks were positive in the sense that I think both sides emerged with a better understanding of the other’s views,” Abrams told reporters after the meeting, according to the Associated Press.{mosads}

It is “perfectly plausible” that the two sides meet again, he added, but no date was set.

The U.S. was one of the first countries to recognize National Assembly leader Juan Guaidó as the interim president of Venezuela, a decision several other countries and international organizations have followed.

Russia backs Maduro, who took office in 2013, and has accused the U.S. of violating Venezuela’s sovereignty by pressuring him to step down.

“Perhaps we failed to narrow positions on this situation,” Rybakov was quoted by a Russian news outlet as saying on Tuesday, according to Reuters. “We assume that Washington treats our priorities seriously, our approach and warnings.”