Ukrainian President Zelensky brazenly hinted that Trump should capture Putin after the US military successfully removed Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro, sparking global attention with his calculated diplomatic gambit.
Zelensky’s Strategic Message to Trump
Hours after US forces captured Maduro on January 3, 2026, Zelensky delivered his pointed remarks to journalists in Kyiv. “If you can do this with dictators, like that, then the United States of America know what they should do next,” he stated with what observers described as a wry smile. The Ukrainian leader’s carefully crafted words represented a diplomatic masterstroke, leveraging America’s demonstrated military capability to subtly pressure Trump regarding Putin.
The timing proved particularly significant as Trump had just authorized the most dramatic military intervention in Latin America in decades. Operation Absolute Resolve deployed over 150 aircraft to extract both Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores from Caracas, sending shockwaves through Moscow’s leadership. Trump’s declaration that “American dominance in the Western hemisphere will never be questioned again” established the aggressive tone of his foreign policy approach.
Putin Loses Critical Strategic Partner
Maduro’s removal represents a devastating setback for Vladimir Putin’s global influence network. The Venezuelan dictator had maintained close ties with Moscow, attending victory celebrations in Russia as recently as May 2025 where Putin warmly welcomed him. This relationship positioned Venezuela as Russia’s primary foothold in Latin America, providing strategic leverage against US interests in the region.
Energy market dynamics amplify the blow to Russia’s economy. Russia, Venezuela, and Iran collectively control one-third of global liquid hydrocarbon reserves and 15% of worldwide production. Maduro’s elimination from power threatens to flood markets with Venezuelan oil, potentially crushing prices and inflicting severe economic pain on Russia’s war-battered economy. This comes at a particularly vulnerable time as international sanctions continue strangling Moscow’s financial resources.
Moscow’s Desperate Diplomatic Response
The Russian Foreign Ministry’s immediate protest revealed the Kremlin’s alarm over losing their Venezuelan ally. Officials urged the US to release Maduro and his wife, desperately claiming they were “legitimately elected leaders” despite widespread international recognition of the fraudulent 2024 Venezuelan election. This hollow defense exposes Russia’s limited options when confronting America’s restored military dominance under Trump’s leadership.
Expert analysis suggests Putin now faces increased pressure from his own elite circles. Research fellow Kirill Rogov noted that Trump “has just demonstrated his determination and appetite for escalation,” creating significant impact on Kremlin decision-making. However, some analysts caution that despite Zelensky’s hopes, Putin likely faces no immediate threat of similar American action against Russia itself.
Maduro currently awaits trial on federal narco-terrorism charges in New York’s Metropolitan Detention Center, facing conditions described as “disgusting” with chronic understaffing and inmate violence. His superseding indictment details extensive cocaine trafficking operations that flooded American communities with deadly drugs, justifying Trump’s decisive military response. This swift justice demonstrates America’s renewed commitment to protecting citizens from foreign criminal enterprises operating under the guise of legitimate governments.
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For Putin, the US operation in Venezuela is a double-edged sword
Zelensky’s Cryptic “What’s Next” Reference To Putin After Maduro’s Capture
Zelenskyy reacts to Maduro arrest: US ‘knows what to do next’
If the UK and France had helped Czechoslovakia stop the German invasion, World War II would never have happened. If we don’t stop Putin’s Russia in the Ukraine, then the savage Russian army will roll on and more civilians will be slaughtered.
Appeasing Putin on the Ukraine increases the chance that Putin will think he can get away with a limited nuclear strike, as Putin seems to think that the US will not risk US cities in defending Europe and the Europeans have a very limited number of nuclear weapons to use against Russia.
Trump’s preference for isolationism, mirrors FDR’s feeble attempt to keep the US out of World War II, which significantly increases the risk of a nuclear World War III.
The Dictator Zelenskyy should be next. Time to stop the bloodshed and have safe, secure elections, and let his opposition leaders, as well as Christian Orthodox clergy, out of jail.