Venezuela releases 2 American prisoners after US visit
Fox News
Venezuela released at least two Americans from prison Tuesday after U.S. officials from the White House and State Department made a high-level visit to the country over the weekend, according to reports.
Last weekend marked the highest-level visit from U.S. officials to the country in years. In 2019, the Trump administration banned Venezuelan oil imports over allegations by the West that authoritarian President Nicolás Maduro had conducted an illegitimate election.
The prisoner release came on the same day President Biden said the U.S. plans to ban imports of Russian oil, natural gas, and coal. Venezuelan oil could help offset the loss of Russian imports but U.S. officials said the release of the Americans was not part of any deal, but rather an apparent goodwill gesture.