CARACAS (Reuters – Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro Monday stated that he has agreed a future agenda with a U.S. delegation that he met last Saturday. This was the first high level meeting between them in many years.

According to five people familiar with the matter, officials of the two countries met and discussed the possibility of easing sanctions regarding South American oil companies. However, they did not make any progress in reaching a settlement. The talks were part of U.S. attempts to seperate Russia from one of its main allies.

Maduro announced that “Last Saturday night, a delegation of the United States of America arrived at Venezuela. I received it here in the presidential palace,” in a broadcast via state media.

“We had a meeting. I could describe that as respectful, cordial and very diplomatic,” he stated.

He said that the meeting took two hours and did not specify the topic or the names of the U.S. delegate.

Sources had previously confirmed to Reuters that Juan Gonzalez was the White House top advisor on Latin America. Roger Carstens is the United States presidential special envoy on hostage matters. Ambassador James Story was also included.

Jen Psaki (White House Press Secretary) stated that earlier in the day, the purpose of this trip was to talk about a variety of topics, including energy security and cases involving nine U.S. citizens in Venezuelan jail.

Maduro indicated that talks will continue but did not give a date.

Maduro stated that he reiterated all his will to achieve peace and well-being through diplomacy and respect, as he had said to the U.S. delegation.