With bated breath, United Nations awaits another first for Trump

The left-wing leader is expected to touch-down in New York City Wednesday evening, where he vowed to "defend the truth of Venezuela" and to "bring the voice of our Fatherland" to the United States.

Maduro then went on state television and thanked Trump for the sanctions, saying the sanctions were an honour.

But even after the White House denied a meeting would take place, the now-slighted Maduro kept flying north, all brashness and bluster.

Six nations have accused him of crimes against humanity, while Mr Trump has hinted at military action against Venezuela on top of existing sanctions.

He tweeted a photo of himself aboard the plane, saying he meant to "bring the truth" about Venezuela to the U.N. He made a point of saying he was accompanied by his wife, Cilia Flores, who was sanctioned Tuesday by the U.S. Treasury, which also seized a plane belonging to a Maduro ally.

FILE PHOTO: Peruvian Foreign Minister Nestor Popolizio talks to Chinese Vice President Wang Qishan (not pictured) during their meeting at the Zhongnanhai Leadership Compound in Beijing, China, August 27, 2018.

"They know we're after them, and they know we're after them on a multinational basis because we're beginning to see the networks morph and new shell companies stand up and existing ones wound down", Said Marshall Billingslea, the assistant Treasury secretary for terrorist financing.

Lavrov told Maduro, "We are ready to offer all-around assistance for all of your plans", according to reports by Russian news agencies.

The U migration and refugees organisations said in a joint statement in August that 2.3 million Venezuelans are now living overseas and more than 1.6 million have left since 2015.

Venezuela has held close relations with Iran since the days of Hugo Chávez and both countries now share the similar struggle of dealing with economic sanctions imposed by the United States. He cited Venezuela's oil and gold reserves as the reason why "oligarchies of the continent dominated by Washington are looking to dominate political power in Venezuela".

Maduro has called for a face-to-face conversation in the past.

He also invited the United Nations - and even the FBI - to investigate the attempt "and discover the truth".

Maduro also made another stab at setting up a meeting with Trump.

Donald Trump has said he is willing to meet Nicolás Maduro if it would help ease suffering in Venezuela. Two weeks ago, a U.S. treasury official said Venezuela's government was stealing from a state-run food programme while its own people go hungry.

Trump said yesterday that all U.S. options are on the table to help end the political, economic and humanitarian chaos in Venezuela - even the "strong ones".

Trump's remarks likely don't indicate a military intervention anytime soon, Farnsworth said.

Pressure on Venezuela has also been growing within Latin America.

But his country is collapsing around him.

His desire for some sort of reconciliation with the USA has increased as worldwide pressure has been building on his socialist Government at a time of hyperinflation and widespread food and medicine shortages.

For over a year, top USA officials have struggled to build support for more sweeping oil sanctions, facing resistance from energy companies still active in the country and fearing it could tip the OPEC nation over the edge at a time of hyperinflation and widespread food and medicine shortages.

While more world leaders spoke at the General Assembly on Wednesday, most attention was still focused on Trump, whose brash behavior provoked laughter and headshakes from other leaders.