Administration of Joseph R. Biden, Jr., 2022

October 6, 2022

Q. Mr. President, are you considering easing sanctions on Venezuela?

Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)

Q. What's your reaction to the OPEC Plus decision, Mr. President?

The President. Disappointment. And we're looking at what alternatives we may have. [At this point, the President addressed other reporters.]

Don't hurt him, man. Don'tâyou're knocking him through the wire.

Venezuela

Q. Is Venezuela one of those alternatives?

The President. There's a lot of alternatives. We haven't made up our mind yet.

President Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin of Russia

Q. Will you meet President Putin at the Gâ20 summit, sir? Will you meet President Putin at the Gâ20 summit or APEC summit to talk about Ukraine andâ[inaudible]?

The President. That remains to be seen.

Venezuela

Q. What would Venezuela have to do in order for the U.S. to ease sanctions?

The President. A lot.

The President's Travel to the Middle East/Israel/Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)/Saudi Arabia

Q. What does the OPEC move say about your relationship with the Saudis? Are there any regrets about that trip now?

The President. No. Theâthe trip was not essentially for oil. The trip was about the Middle East and about Israel and rationalization of positions.

But it is a disappointment, and it says that they're a problem.

Q. North Korea, sir? On North Korea? Sir, on North Korea?

NOTE: The President spoke at 10:22 a.m. on the South Lawn at the White House prior to boarding Marine One.

Categories: Interviews With the News Media : Exchanges with reporters :: White House. Locations: Washington, DC.

Names: Putin, Vladimir Vladimirovich.

Subjects: Communications : News media :: Presidential interviews; Energy : Foreign sources; Middle East : Arab-Israeli conflict, peace process; Russia : President.

DCPD Number: DCPD202200880.