Ukrainian President Comments on U.S. Detention of Maduro
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy commented on Saturday regarding the United States’ recent detention of former Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro. He remarked to reporters that the U.S. “knows what to do next.”
After a session with security advisers from allied nations in Kiev, Zelenskiy was asked about the unexpected military operation in Caracas that took place early that morning. In response, he said in Ukrainian, “About Venezuela? How should we respond to this? Well, what I can say is that if it can do that against a dictator, the United States knows what to do next,” flashing a smile.
U.S. forces arrested Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, transporting them to locations including Iwo Jima and New York to face federal charges.
Russia’s Foreign Ministry expressed strong condemnation regarding the couple’s detention, urging the Trump administration to free “the duly elected president of a sovereign state and his spouse.”
Maduro has been indicted on charges of leading a narco-terrorism conspiracy linked to substantial cocaine trafficking into the U.S., among other drug and weapon-related offenses, as outlined in an indictment made public by Attorney General Pam Bondi on Saturday. Flores faces charges in connection with a long-standing cocaine trafficking conspiracy, along with related firearms allegations.
General Dan Cain, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, stated that the mission—known as Operation Absolute Resolve—involved over 150 aircraft, showcasing the collaborative effort of military, intelligence, and law enforcement agencies to carry out the arrests.
Speaking at a press conference at Mar-a-Lago, Cain described the operation as a demonstration of the country’s commitment to justice. President Trump, when asked about his communications with Russian President Vladimir Putin regarding Maduro, mentioned he hasn’t spoken to him and expressed discontent with Putin’s actions, saying, “He’s killing too many people.”
Meanwhile, Moscow continues its aggressive actions against Kiev, pressing the Trump administration to seek a potential peace deal to end the ongoing conflict. Zelenskiy emphasized that Russia seems less interested in genuine peace efforts and is using negotiations as a strategy to buy time while maintaining its aggressive warfare.
