US President Donald Trump on Friday dismissed suggestions that the United States could carry out a dramatic operation against Russian President Vladimir Putin, similar to the recent raid that led to the capture of Venezuela’s former leader Nicolas Maduro. Trump said such a move was “not necessary”, even as he expressed deep frustration over the continuing war in Ukraine.
Responding to questions about Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s cryptic remarks hinting that Putin could be “next” after Maduro’s arrest, Trump told reporters that Washington did not see the need for such action.
“I don’t think it’s going to be necessary. I think we’re going to have a — and always had — a great relationship with him,” Trump said.
The US president made the remarks while speaking to senior executives from the oil and gas sector, where he also voiced disappointment that the Ukraine conflict, now in its fourth year, has yet to end.
“I settled eight wars. I thought this would be somewhere in the middle, or maybe one of the easier ones,” Trump said, referring to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine that began in 2022.
Putin is currently the subject of an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant over alleged war crimes in Ukraine, a factor that has complicated diplomatic efforts to negotiate a ceasefire.
Zelensky’s remark after Maduro’s arrest
Trump’s comments came days after a shock US military operation in Caracas resulted in Maduro’s arrest and transfer to the United States to face charges related to drug trafficking and other offences. The unprecedented move sent shockwaves through global capitals.
Reacting to the development, Zelensky made an indirect reference to Putin, suggesting that if this was how a “dictator” was dealt with, the United States “knows what to do next.” Trump, however, publicly ruled out any similar action against the Russian leader.
Trump on war losses and peace talks
Reflecting on the human cost of the Ukraine war, Trump said he regretted not being able to stop the conflict earlier.
“Last month, they lost 31,000 people. Many of them were Russian soldiers. The Russian economy is doing poorly. I think we are going to end up getting it settled,” he said. “I wish we could have done it quicker because a lot of people are dying, mostly soldiers.”
How Maduro was captured
According to US accounts, the operation in Venezuela began shortly after midnight, with airstrikes across Caracas followed by a raid by elite Delta Force troops on Maduro’s residence. He and his wife, Cilia Flores, were taken into custody and flown to a US military base before being transported to New York aboard a US Navy vessel.
Maduro’s vice president, Delcy Rodríguez, has since assumed leadership, condemning the operation as “illegal and illegitimate.” Despite the sharp rhetoric, both countries have begun exploratory talks on restoring diplomatic relations.
Oil, protests and political fallout
Trump has linked Venezuela’s post-Maduro transition to its vast oil reserves, urging US energy companies to invest while promising security guarantees. He has claimed that American firms are prepared to invest up to $100 billion in the country.
At the same time, Venezuelan authorities have started releasing political prisoners, a move Washington says followed negotiations after the raid. However, the developments have triggered protests in Caracas, with demonstrators demanding Maduro’s release and rejecting US influence over national resources.
