Remarks in an Exchange With Reporters Prior to Departure for Poughkeepsie, New York

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't—you'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 G-20 summit, sir? Will you meet President Putin at the G-20 summit or APEC summit to talk about Ukraine and—[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. The—the 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?