Pompeo, Lavrov hold phone talks over INF, Venezuela

WASHINGTON - US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has had a phone conversation with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, reaffirming US stance on the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty and Venezuela, the State Department said on Wednesday.

Pompeo told his Russian counterpart on Tuesday that the INF Treaty would terminate in early August unless Russia comes back into full and verifiable compliance with the treaty, the State Department said in a statement.

Pompeo and Lavrov also discussed the situation in Venezuela and a peaceful transition to democracy that is in the best interest of both the United States and Russia, said the statement.

The Russian Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday that Lavrov warned Pompeo in the phone conversation that Russia opposed US intervention in the internal affairs of Venezuela, including the use of force.

Washington will face violations of international law if the United States intervenes, Lavrov told his counterpart.

Also on Tuesday, Lavrov said Russia had prepared a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) draft resolution supporting dialogue in Venezuela, contrary to a US proposal that paves the way for an invasion.

On Jan 23, the Trump administration recognized Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido as the nation's "interim president," a move that came after Maduro was inaugurated as president of the Latin American country earlier that month.

US President Trump has also warned that "all options are on the table" regarding Venezuela.

On Feb 1, the Trump administration announced that the United States is withdrawing from the INF Treaty with Russia within six months, starting from Feb 2. In response, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on Feb 2 that Moscow would also suspend its participation in the INF Treaty.

The INF Treaty was signed in 1987 between the Soviet Union and the United States on the elimination of land-based intermediate-range missiles.