Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made a pointed and carefully worded remark after the United States carried out a dramatic military operation in Venezuela, capturing President Nicolas Maduro and flying him to the US to face criminal charges.
Without naming Russia or President Vladimir Putin, Zelenskyy suggested that Washington now “knows what to do next” when dealing with dictators — a comment widely interpreted as an indirect reference to Moscow amid the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Speaking after a meeting with European national security advisers, Zelenskyy was asked to react to the US action against Venezuela ordered by President Donald Trump. With a measured tone, he said that if dictators can be dealt with “just like that,” then the United States already understands its next steps.
The remark came a day after US forces launched precision airstrikes on Caracas, arrested Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores from a military base, and transported them to the United States. Washington claims the operation was aimed at dismantling a narco-terrorism network allegedly run by the Venezuelan leadership.
US officials later said the operation lasted less than 30 minutes but triggered explosions across the Venezuelan capital, plunging parts of the city into chaos. Caracas denounced the action as a violation of international law, while several countries raised concerns over the precedent it set.
Russia reacted sharply, urging the US to release Maduro and warning that such actions undermine global stability. The Russian foreign ministry called for dialogue and accused Washington of breaching international norms.
Zelenskyy’s statement has since fuelled global debate over whether the Venezuela operation could signal a new US approach toward authoritarian leaders — especially those accused of aggression, war crimes, or long-term defiance of international law.
