Handout picture released by the Venezuelan Presidency showing Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro giving a new speech before the annual General Assembly's virtual summit, from Miraflores Presidential Palace in Caracas on Sept 23, 2020, amid the COVID-19 pandemic. (PHOTO / AFP)

NEW YORK / CARACAS - Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said Wednesday he will meet with US President Donald Trump to discuss regional matters.

Maduro said a drone assassination attempt on him in Caracas was prepared and funded from the United States 

Maduro made the remarks during his virtual speech at the General Debate of the 75th session of UN General Assembly.

Highlighting Venezuela as a country having the largest oil reserves in the world, the fourth-largest gas reserves and rich gold reserves, the president said these resources have caught the attention of "oligarchs in Washington" who want to control his country.

Maduro said a drone assassination attempt on him in Caracas was prepared and funded from the United States and that he wants a special UN rapporteur to carry out an independent investigation into the attack.

Meanwhile he confirmed the intention to meet with Trump, saying that while Venezuela is peaceful and friendly and appreciates the culture, art and social life of the United States, it is against the "imperialists in Washington."

The United States has been pursuing a policy of economic sanctions and diplomatic isolation against the Maduro government

In an interview with Axios in late June, Trump said that he would consider meeting with Maduro.

The United States has been pursuing a policy of economic sanctions and diplomatic isolation against the Maduro government.

Trump has rolled back a detente with Havana, Washington’s old Cold War foe, that was pursued by his predecessor Barack Obama.

Against US sanctions

Maduro also told the UN General Assembly that all “countries that defend peace” should rally against US sanctions clamped on the South American country and its allies like Cuba, Nicaragua and Syria.

The Trump administration has ramped up sanctions against Venezuela in the past two years as part of an effort to oust Maduro, who it accuses of corruption, human rights violations, and rigging his 2018 re-election.

The Trump administration has ramped up sanctions against Venezuela in the past two years as part of an effort to oust Maduro

Maduro has overseen a six-year economic collapse in the once-prosperous OPEC nation, which the opposition and most economists attribute to Venezuela’s interventionist economic policies. Venezuela’s ruling socialist party blames the US sanctions for the country’s woes.

READ MORE: Maduro says election delay to meet EU request 'impossible'

“We must demand the cessation of all unilateral coercive measures, of all the alleged sanctions, and that they allow our people to exercise their own rights,” Maduro said in his remarks.

Cuba and Nicaragua are two of Maduro’s only remaining allies in Latin America, after left-leaning leaders lost power in countries like Brazil and Ecuador.

ALSO READ: Maduro orders EU envoy to leave following fresh sanctions

The Trump administration has also sanctioned Nicaraguan individuals and companies in response to what it calls corruption and repression under President Daniel Ortega.