U.S. President Donald Trump has dismissed suggestions that the United States would pursue Russian President Vladimir Putin through military action similar to the operation that captured former Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro.
Speaking to reporters on Friday, Trump responded to cryptic comments by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who hinted that Putin could be targeted next following Maduro’s seizure. “I don’t think it’s going to be necessary. I think we’re going to have—and always had—a great relationship with him,” Trump said, emphasizing diplomacy over force.
Despite expressing disappointment over the ongoing war in Ukraine, Trump conveyed confidence in achieving a settlement. “I settled eight wars. I thought this would be in the middle of the pack or maybe one of the easier ones,” he remarked, while acknowledging the heavy human toll: “Last month, they lost 31,000 people. Many of them were Russian soldiers.”
Putin currently faces an International Criminal Court arrest warrant for alleged war crimes in Ukraine, complicating international diplomacy.
The questions follow last week’s dramatic U.S. military operation in Caracas, where Maduro was captured and extradited to the U.S. to face drug-trafficking charges. While the move has stirred global debate and protests in Venezuela, Trump indicated his administration’s focus remains on negotiation rather than replicating such raids against other leaders.
The President also outlined plans for U.S. energy investment in Venezuela under the new political arrangement, estimating up to $100 billion in potential commitments from American oil firms.
As the situation in Venezuela evolves with prisoner releases and renewed U.S.-Venezuela diplomatic contact, Trump’s comments signal a clear distinction in his approach to handling adversarial leaders—prioritizing back-channel engagement with Moscow while maintaining a firm, interventionist stance in Caracas.
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