US President Donald Trump has downplayed speculation that Washington could mount an operation against Russian President Vladimir Putin similar to the dramatic raid that led to the capture of Venezuela’s Nicolas Maduro. Responding to questions about Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s cryptic remarks suggesting Putin could be “next,” Trump said such a move would not be required.
“I don’t think it’s going to be necessary,” Trump told reporters, adding that he believed the United States had “always had a great relationship” with the Russian leader. His comments came amid ongoing frustration over the prolonged Russia-Ukraine war, which has continued since 2022.
Speaking during a meeting with top US oil and gas executives, Trump expressed disappointment that the conflict had not ended yet, noting that he had previously helped resolve several wars. He lamented the heavy human cost of the fighting, pointing to tens of thousands of casualties, many of them Russian soldiers, and said he wished the war could have been settled sooner.
The remarks followed Zelensky’s indirect reference to Putin after the recent US operation in Venezuela, where Nicolas Maduro was seized in a pre-dawn raid and flown to the United States to face charges. While the move shocked governments worldwide and emboldened some US allies, Trump made it clear he would not pursue a similar course against Russia’s president.
Putin remains under an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court over alleged war crimes in Ukraine, further complicating diplomatic efforts. Despite this, Trump reiterated his belief that the conflict could eventually be resolved, stressing that continued bloodshed benefits no one.