'US Knows What To Do Next': Does Zelenskyy Ask Trump To Give Putin The Same Fate As Maduro?

New Delhi: As US captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on January 3 and flew him out of the country in an extraordinary military operation, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy weighed in with an oblique reference to Russian President Vladimir Putin and said that if a dictator can be treated the way Nicolas Maduro was, US President Donald Trump knows what to do next.

Zelenskyy remarks came in when he was asked about Donald Trumps' military action against Venezuela after a meeting with European national security advisors on Saturday.

With a wry smile, Ukraine's Zelenskyy said, “What can I say here? If this can be done to dictators, like that, then the United States of America know what they should do next.”

Earlier, the Russian Foreign Ministry urged the United States to release Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, calling them the "legitimately elected leaders" and stressing that issues between the two countries should be resolved through dialogue.

The US military operation, dubbed ‘Operation Absolute Resolve’, began early Saturday morning, with explosions and gunfire reported in Caracas and other parts of the country. The attack involved a combination of air strikes and ground troops, with the US forces targeting key military installations, including the Fort Tiuna military complex and La Carlota air base.

Venezuelan leader and wife flown out the country

Zelenskyy's remarks came in the backdrop of US President's military operation against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife. Both leaders were flown out of the country and have been indicted in the United States on drugs and weapons charges.

US Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed the indictment of President Maduro and his wife in the Southern District of New York.

She added, "'Narco-Terrorism Conspiracy, Cocaine Importation Conspiracy, Possession of Machineguns and Destructive Devices, and Conspiracy to Possess Machineguns and Destructive Devices against the United States', as per reports.

Adding further, Bondi said, “They will soon face the full wrath of American justice on American soil in American courts".

Shocking photo of Maduro

US President Donald Trump shared the first picture of captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. Trump shared the picture on social media platform Truth Social, with the caption, “Nicolas Maduro on board the USS Iwo Jima.”

Trump claimed that the duo are currently on a ship and are being taken to New York. The picture comes after Vice President Delcy Rodriguez demanded that the US send an "immediate proof of life" of Maduro and Flores.

Maduro and his wife were reportedly dragged out of their bedroom by troops while they were asleep. This came amidst large-scale attack by the US Army on the South American country in the early hours of Saturday.

‘Maduro Will Face America’s Wrath': Trump

While addressing a press conference, Donald Trump said that Maduro and his wife will soon face the “full might of American wrath”. Calling Maduro a “dictator”, Trump stated that the people of Venezuela have suffered a lot. He added, “We are going to make the people of Venezuela rich and independent.” 

Maduro has been indicted on several charges, including narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy into the United States, possession and conspiracy to possess machineguns and destructive devices in connection with those drug offenses. Trump has repeatedly accused Maduro of presiding over what he has described as a "narco-terrorist" government.

Watched It Like A TV Show!': Trump

United States President Donald Trump, in a phone interview with US media, stated that he watched the late-night US airstrikes on Venezuela live from Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida. He also praised the US Army for doing an “incredible job”.

American forces carried out an unprecedented operation in and around Venezuela's capital city Caracas that led to the capture of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife.

US Airstrikes In Venezuela

At least 40 people, including civilians and soldiers, were reportedly killed in the US military action in Venezuela on Saturday, during which Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro was captured. According to local media reports, over 150 US military aircraft and elite ground troops carried out a large-scale military operation in Venezuela. However, an official statement on the number of casualties during the US military action is awaited.

A government official, who wished to remain anonymous, told the New York Times that the attack had resulted in the deaths of at least 40 people, including civilians and soldiers. 

US action on Venezuela condemned

The US action on Venezuela has been condemned by countries around the world, with Russia, China, Iran, and Colombia demanding Maduro's immediate release. The United Nations (UN) Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres has expressed alarm, warning that the operation sets a dangerous precedent and may have violated international law. Meanwhile, the US has defended its actions, citing a 1989 precedent in which the first Bush administration invaded Panama to capture dictator Manuel Noriega.

The world leaders have warned that the latest action by the US has led the world to a situation where it has now become necessary to brace for the implications.

Zelenskyy On Ukraine War

Against the backdrop of an intensifying U.S. effort to broker peace, Zelensky’s remarks coincide with a Saturday summit in Kyiv. During the meeting, European national security officials focused on establishing long-term financial aid and safety commitments for Ukraine as the war approaches its fourth year.

Adding further, Ukraine's president said progress on the peace initiatives is expected to quicken now that Kyiv has provided 18 national security advisers with a comprehensive set of deliberative documents, which notably include details on security assurances.

He added, 'We expect that this further work will now take place in the capitals of European countries as well as Canada, Japan and other representatives of the Coalition of the Willing,' as per news reports.

President Zelenskyy announced that a delegation from Ukraine’s military and General Staff will convene in Paris this Monday. This will be followed by a Tuesday summit of European leaders aimed at finalizing agreements on security guarantees. Furthermore, a series of discussions with U.S. representatives is also slated to take place in the French capital.

On the ground, the humanitarian cost continues to rise; regional governor Oleh Syniehubov reported that the death toll from Friday’s missile strike in Kharkiv has reached two, tragically including a three-year-old boy. Additionally, Vitalii Kim of the Mykolaiv region stated that while an overnight drone strike on energy infrastructure caused local power outages, repair crews worked through the night to restore electricity, and no lives were lost.