Dorian Geiger
Venezuela has freed U.S. citizens Gustavo Cardenas and Jorge Fernandez from detention, the White House announced just before midnight Tuesday.
Why it Matters: The announcement signals a possible thawing of tensions between Washington and the Latin American country, amid Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine.
- It follows a Biden administration delegation’s secret weekend trip to Venezuela, which included a top White House official and State Department hostage negotiator, per AP.
The big picture: The weekend visit came as concerns over rising gas prices, following the U.S. ban on Russian oil imports on Tuesday as Moscow continued its bombardment of Ukraine.
Flashback: In 2019, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro cut ties with the Trump administration and threatened to expel American diplomats amid calls for his ouster.
Editor’s note: This a breaking news story. Please check back for updates.
Source: axios.com