Khaberni - Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro confirmed early Thursday that he spoke by phone with US President Donald Trump amid the severe crisis between Washington and Caracas.
The Venezuelan President said on state television that the conversation, which occurred about ten days ago, was friendly and based on mutual respect.
Nicolás Maduro stated: "I spoke with United States President Donald Trump ... and I can say that the conversation was conducted in a respectful tone, and I can even say it was friendly."
Maduro mentioned in his speech that the conversation is a potential opportunity for diplomacy.
"Reuters" reported on Monday citing four sources familiar with the call that Maduro told Trump he was ready to leave Venezuela if he and his family received a full legal pardon, including the lifting of U.S. sanctions and dropping a major case before the International Criminal Court.
This invitation comes after months of US pressure on Venezuela, including strikes against alleged drug smuggling boats, threats of military action, and the designation of the "Los Soles" cartel as a foreign terrorist organization.
Subsequently, "CBS" reported that a group of U.S. Senators from both the Democratic and Republican parties introduced a resolution on Wednesday aimed at preventing U.S. military action against Venezuela without the consent of Congress, after President Donald Trump said a ground campaign would start soon.
Trump is considering various options, including launching an attack on Venezuelan territory, as part of a campaign he describes as aimed at stopping the illegal drug trafficking that has killed Americans; Maduro denied any link with illegal drug trade.
Trump repeatedly told reporters at the White House over the past two days that the ground attack would begin "very soon."
In response to his comments, Democratic senators Tim Kaine from Virginia, Chuck Schumer from New York, Adam Schiff from California, and Republican senator Rand Paul from Kentucky, said they introduced their war powers resolution.
The lawmakers, who have repeatedly attempted to curb Trump's aggression toward Venezuela, said on Tuesday that they would present a new resolution to force Congress to vote on the issue if the administration launched an attack, but they stated on Wednesday that Trump's comments prompted them to move forward.
Schiff stated in a statement, "We're being dragged into a war with Venezuela without a legal basis or authorization from Congress, and the Senate should be prepared to stop an illegal war that would put thousands of American servicemen and women at risk unnecessarily."
According to US Senate rules, a war powers resolution is privileged, meaning it must be brought to a vote within a few days.
It is worth noting that the US forces have carried out at least 21 strikes against alleged drug trafficking vessels in the Caribbean and Pacific regions since early September, resulting in at least 83 deaths, as Trump ramps up his military build-up against the government of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
