Zelenskyy responds to US seize of Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy weighed in Saturday on the U.S. seize of former Venezuelan chief Nicolás Maduro, telling reporters that Washington "is aware of what to do subsequent."

Zelenskyy was talking to reporters in Kyiv after assembly with nationwide safety advisors from member states of the Coalition of the Keen when he was requested concerning the beautiful U.S. army operation that unfolded within the early morning hours in Caracas.

"Relating to Venezuela? How ought to we reply to this?" Zelenskyy requested in Ukrainian. "Nicely, what can I say is, if you are able to do that with dictators, then the USA is aware of what to do subsequent," he stated with a smile.

U.S. forces took Maduro and his spouse, Cilia Flores, from their compound, the place they have been boarded onto the usIwo Jima and flown to New York to face federal expenses.

TRUMP CASTS MADURO’S OUSTER AS ‘SMART’ MOVE AS RUSSIA, CHINA ENTER THE FRAY

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks throughout a briefing in Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026. (Danylo Antoniuk/AP)

Russia’s Ministry of International Affairs denounced the seize of Maduro and his spouse, urging the Trump administration to launch the "legitimately elected president of a sovereign nation and his partner."

In a superseding indictment launched Saturday by Lawyer Common Pam Bondi , Maduro is charged with main a narco-terrorism conspiracy tied to large-scale cocaine trafficking into the USA, together with associated drug importation and weapons offenses.

Flores can be charged in the identical indictment with taking part in a decades-long cocaine trafficking conspiracy and associated firearms offenses.

The costs construct on prior indictments from 2020.

NYC MAYOR STRONGLY CONDEMNS TRUMP'S CAPTURE OF VENEZUELAN LEADER MADURO AS 'ACT OF WAR'

Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro gestures subsequent to his spouse Cilia Flores as they go away the Capitolio, dwelling of the Nationwide Meeting, after taking the oath throughout the presidential inauguration in Caracas on Jan. 10, 2025. (Juan Barreto/AFP by way of Getty Photographs)

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Gen. Dan Caine stated the mission, dubbed "Operation Absolute Resolve," concerned more than 150 aircraft and a coordinated effort by the U.S. army, intelligence companies, and legislation enforcement to apprehend the duo.

"This operation is a testomony to the dedication and unwavering dedication to justice and our resolve to carry accountable those that threaten peace and stability," he stated at a Mar-a-Lago press convention alongside President Donald Trump and different Cupboard officers.

MADURO’S FALL SPARKS SUSPICION OF BETRAYAL INSIDE VENEZUELA’S RULING ELITE

Trump instructed reporters he by no means spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin about Maduro.

"I am not thrilled with Putin. He is killing too many individuals," the president stated when requested whether or not he was upset on the Russian chief.

President Donald Trump speaks at his Mar-a-Lago membership, Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026, in Palm Seashore, Fla. (Alex Brandon/AP)

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Moscow has continued pounding Kyiv with large-scale drone and missile assaults because the Trump administration works to safe a possible peace settlement to finish the practically four-year struggle.

"Russia has not proven a real willingness to pursue peace. As a substitute, it continues its aggressive struggle, violence, and destabilization, utilizing negotiations as a tactic to purchase time," Zelenskyy stated throughout the Coalition of the Keen assembly, based on an announcement from his workplace. "It employs provocations and manipulations to derail progress within the peace course of,"