Zelenskiy’s Comments on Maduro’s Arrest and Putin

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has proposed that after the arrest of Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro, the U.S. might consider tackling Russian President Vladimir Putin next.

Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were taken into custody during early morning operations carried out by U.S. special forces. They face serious charges in New York related to narcoterrorism.

Regarding Maduro’s ousting—a move supported in Kiev—Zelenskiy indicated that similar actions could be relevant for dealing with Putin, who has been engaged in the conflict in Ukraine for almost four years now.

Speaking to reporters after a meeting with European security advisers, he remarked about Maduro, “If we can deal with a dictator like this, then the U.S. will know what to do next,” as reported by Ukrinform.

His remarks arrive during already tense negotiations aimed at achieving lasting peace between Moscow and Kiev, discussions led by the Trump administration.

Recently, tensions rose over an alleged Ukrainian drone strike on Putin’s residence in the Novgorod region, with Moscow claiming to have evidence. However, U.S. intelligence suggested that the attack was not aimed specifically at the Russian leader’s official home.

Some even speculated that this operation might give Russia a reason to justify similar actions in Ukraine following Maduro’s arrest. Former Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis pondered if Putin might think, “Shouldn’t Mr. Zelenskyy also be arrested and handed over to the Russian judiciary?”

In stark contrast, Russia denounced the removal of Maduro, urging the U.S. to “reconsider its position” and to free the elected leader of Venezuela and his wife.

Despite using military strategies in Ukraine, the Kremlin asserted that all issues between the U.S. and Venezuela should be resolved through dialogue. Maduro, a fierce ally of Putin and a vocal critic of Zelenskiy, once described him as a “clown” during a television broadcast last March.

Additionally, Maduro anticipated that Zelenskiy would eventually be forsaken by what he termed “American imperialism,” suggesting that it was his “destiny” to sell his soul to the “devil” that is America.