US, Russian top diplomats discuss Venezuela crisis

By Michael Hernandez

WASHINGTON (AA) - U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo telephoned Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Wednesday to discuss the ongoing crisis in Venezuela, according to the State Department.

Pompeo "stressed that the intervention by Russia and Cuba is destabilizing for Venezuela and for the U.S.-Russia bilateral relationship," spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said in a statement.

"The Secretary urged Russia to cease support for Nicolas Maduro and join other nations, including the overwhelming majority of countries in the Western Hemisphere, who seek a better future for the Venezuelan people," Ortagus added.