US President Donald Trump has moved to cool speculation that Washington could launch a dramatic military operation against Russian President Vladimir Putin, similar to the recent raid that led to the arrest of Venezuela’s Nicolas Maduro. Speaking to reporters on Friday, Trump made it clear that such a step was unnecessary, even as he expressed growing frustration over the prolonged war in Ukraine.
Asked about comments by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, which hinted that Putin could be next after Maduro’s arrest, Trump said, “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 Expresses Disappointment Over Ukraine War
Trump made the remarks during a meeting with top US oil and gas executives, where he reflected on the human and economic toll of the conflict. He said he was “very disappointed” that the war had not yet ended.
“I settled eight wars. I thought this would be in the middle of the pack or maybe one of the easier ones,” Trump said, referring to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which began in 2022.
He also highlighted the scale of recent losses. “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. I wish we could have done it quicker because a lot of people are dying, mostly soldiers,” Trump said.
Why Comparisons With Maduro Emerged
Speculation about Putin intensified after a shock US military operation in Caracas last week, in which former Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro was seized in a pre-dawn raid and flown to the United States to face charges including drug trafficking. The unprecedented move stunned governments worldwide and triggered debate over whether Washington could repeat such an operation elsewhere.
The arrest also emboldened some US allies. Zelensky reacted to the development with a pointed remark, suggesting that if this is how a “dictator” must be treated, then “the United States knows what to do next.”
Trump Rejects Maduro-Style Action on Russia
Despite the comparisons, Trump publicly rejected the idea of ordering a similar mission against Putin. He stressed that diplomacy, not dramatic force, remained the preferred route, even as international pressure on Moscow continues to mount.
Putin currently faces an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court in The Hague over alleged war crimes in Ukraine, a legal move that has further complicated any diplomatic effort to end the conflict.
Fallout From Maduro’s Arrest Continues
In Venezuela, the aftermath of Maduro’s arrest continues to reshape politics. Delcy Rodriguez, Maduro’s vice president, has assumed the presidency and strongly condemned the US action, calling it a “serious, criminal, illegal and illegitimate attack.”
Despite the sharp rhetoric, Caracas and Washington have begun exploratory talks to restore diplomatic ties. US diplomats are already on the ground in the Venezuelan capital to assess the possible reopening of the US embassy, signaling a cautious thaw in relations.
Bigger Picture: Diplomacy, War, and Global Signals
Trump’s comments underline the contrasting approaches Washington has taken toward Russia and Venezuela. While the Maduro operation sent shockwaves across the world, Trump’s remarks suggest no appetite for similar action against Moscow, despite ongoing bloodshed in Ukraine.
As the war drags on and diplomatic channels remain strained, Trump’s dismissal of a Maduro-style operation against Putin highlights the limits of military intervention — and the challenges of ending one of Europe’s deadliest conflicts in decades.
