Venezuela crisis: President Maduro admits secret talks with US

The Venezuelan leader has confirmed that he is in talks with the Trump administration

Venezuela's embattled President Nicolás Maduro said he has been in talks with the Trump administration for months, even as the US ramped up its sanctions.

An ongoing political and economic crisis has left Venezuela with two self-declared presidents.

The US is one of more than 50 nations which do not recognise Mr Maduro as Venezuela's legitimate leader.

It imposed sweeping sanctions earlier this month aimed at increasing pressure on President Maduro to step down.

But on Tuesday, Mr Maduro confirmed that talks with senior figures in the Trump administration had been going on for months.

Speaking on television, Mr Maduro said: "Just as I have sought dialogue in Venezuela, I have sought a way in which President Trump really listens to Venezuela."

President Trump confirmed on Tuesday that his administration was "talking to various representatives of Venezuela".

"I don't want to say who, but we are talking at a very high level," the US president said.