Venezuela's Maduro says settlement talks could soon resume

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro says his representatives could return to negotiations with the opposition in talks he abruptly halted earlier this month.

Maduro said in an interview released Thursday that “good news” could come in the next few days about settlement talks hosted by Norway. He’s under pressure by U.S.-backed opposition leader Juan Guaidó to leave power.

Maduro ended the talks this month when the Trump administration hit his government with a new round of punishing economic sanctions.

The socialist leader tells the Chinese Xinhua News Agency that his representatives are in contact with the opposition.

Venezuela’s opposition hasn’t commented.

The possibility of resumed dialogue comes amid a historic economic and political crisis in Venezuela that has driven more than 4 million people to flee the country in recent years.