Pompeo To Raise Venezuela, Syria Among Other Security Issues In Sochi Talks - State Dept.

Pompeo to Raise Venezuela, Syria Among Other Security Issues in Sochi Talks - State Dept.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will discuss in the forthcoming meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Sochi a range of global issues, including Venezuela, Iran, Syria, Ukraine and North Korea along with arms control, a senior State Department official said during a conference call on Friday

WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 10th May, 2019) US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will discuss in the forthcoming meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Sochi a range of global issues, including Venezuela, Iran, Syria, Ukraine and North Korea along with arms control, a senior State Department official said during a conference call on Friday.

"The Secretary will then travel to Sochi on Tuesday afternoon to meet with Foreign Minister Lavrov and President Putin," the official said. "There will be a full range of global challenges to discuss including Ukraine, Venezuela, Iran, Syria and North Korea."

Pompeo will meet with Lavrov and Putin in Sochi on Tuesday for discussions on these global issues and other matters important to the bilateral relationship including arms control, the official said.

The US top diplomat will address US concerns over Russia's support for Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. He will also discuss Russia's role in Syria, the official said.

The official said the United States and Russia have made progress in a number of areas including North Korea, Afghanistan and counterterrorism.

Pompeo will also raise US concerns regarding Russia's alleged efforts to meddle in US and other foreign elections, the official added.

Russia has opposed US efforts to promote a military coup in Venezuela to unseat democratically-elected President Nicolas Maduro. Moscow and Washington have also been at odds over US sanctions on Iran, Washington arming Ukraine forces, and disputes over handling refugees in Syria.