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Zelenskyy suggests US should take down Putin in cryptic message following capture of Venezuelan leader Maduro

Home> News> Politics

Updated 12:59 4 Jan 2026 GMTPublished 12:57 4 Jan 2026 GMT

Zelenskyy suggests US should take down Putin in cryptic message following capture of Venezuelan leader Maduro

President Zelenskyy has addressed the recent capture of Nicolás Maduro

Niamh Shackleton

Niamh Shackleton

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Volodymyr Zelenskyy has reacted to the news of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro's capture.

Yesterday (January 3), President Donald Trump announced that Maduro had been 'captured' by US troops.

"The United States of America has successfully carried out a large-scale strike against Venezuela and its leader, President Nicolas Maduro, who has been, along with his wife, captured and flown out of the Country," Trump penned on Truth Social.

US Attorney General Pam Bondi has since confirmed that Maduro has been charged with 'Narco-Terrorism Conspiracy, Cocaine Importation Conspiracy, Possession of Machineguns and Destructive Devices, and Conspiracy to Possess Machineguns and Destructive Devices against the United States'.

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Maduro has previously denied that he was the leader of a drug cartel.

Bondi added that Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, will 'face the full wrath of American justice on American soil in American courts', the BBC reports.

Nicolás Maduro was captured and transported to the US where he's now facing criminal charges (Jesus Vargas/Getty Images)
Nicolás Maduro was captured and transported to the US where he's now facing criminal charges (Jesus Vargas/Getty Images)

President Zelenskyy of Ukraine has shared his thoughts on Maduro's arrest.

After a meeting with European national security advisors yesterday, he chatted with reporters who asked him about what he thinks about Trump's military action against Venezuela.

Smiling, he replied (via Mail Online): "How should I react to this? What can I say?"

Appearing to imply that the same should be done with Vladimir Putin, Zelenskyy added: "If it's possible to deal with dictators this way, then the US knows what to do next."

Andrii Sybiha, Foreign Minister of Ukraine, has reacted to the news as well.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has reacted to the news of Maduro's arrest (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has reacted to the news of Maduro's arrest (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

He penned on Twitter: "Ukraine has consistently defended the right of nations to live freely, free of dictatorship, oppression, and human rights violations. The Maduro regime has violated all such principles in every respect.

"Democratic countries and human rights organizations across the globe have emphasized his regime’s widespread crimes, violence, torture, oppression, abuse of all basic freedoms, stolen votes, and destruction of democracy and the rule of law.

"Ukraine has not recognised Maduro’s legitimacy following rigged elections and violence against protestors, along with dozens of other countries in different parts of the world."

Sybiha went on to speak of the Venezuelan people who deserve a chance 'for a normal life, security, prosperity, and human dignity'.

"We will continue to support their right to such normality, respect, and freedom," he added.

A video has been shared online of the moment Madura was escorted through the Drug Enforcement Administration's (DEA) office in New York.

In an unexpected three-word comment to the cameras filming him, the 63-year-old said: "Happy new year."

Featured Image Credit: Krisztian Bocsi/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Topics: Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Donald Trump, World News, Politics

Niamh Shackleton
Niamh Shackleton

Niamh Shackleton is an experienced journalist for UNILAD, specialising in topics including mental health and showbiz, as well as anything Henry Cavill and cat related. She has previously worked for OK! Magazine, Caters and Kennedy.

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@niamhshackleton

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