Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reacted to the U.S. capture of Nicolás Maduro, saying the United States 'knows what to do next' when dealing with dictators. U.S. forces removed Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, and flew them to New York to face a superseding indictment alleging narco-terrorism, drug importation and weapons offenses. The operation, called 'Operation Absolute Resolve,' reportedly involved more than 150 aircraft and a coordinated military, intelligence and law enforcement effort. Russia condemned the seizure as a violation of sovereignty while tensions persist as Moscow continues large-scale attacks on Kyiv.
Zelenskyy on Maduro's Capture: 'The U.S. Knows What To Do Next' — Inside Operation Absolute Resolve
Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro gestures next to his wife Cilia Flores after the presidential inauguration in Caracas on Jan. 10, 2025.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy commented on Saturday about the dramatic U.S. operation that captured former Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. Speaking in Kyiv after meeting with national security advisers from the Coalition of the Willing, Zelenskyy told reporters that Washington 'knows what to do next' when asked about the seizure in Caracas.
According to U.S. officials, forces removed Maduro and Flores from their compound and transported them aboard the USS Iwo Jima to New York, where they now face federal charges. A superseding indictment issued by Attorney General Pam Bondi accuses Maduro of leading a narco-terrorism conspiracy tied to large-scale cocaine trafficking into the United States, along with related drug importation and weapons offenses. Flores is charged in the same indictment with participating in a decades-long trafficking conspiracy and related firearms offenses. These charges build on earlier indictments from 2020.
Military leaders described the operation, dubbed 'Operation Absolute Resolve,' as a coordinated effort by the U.S. military, intelligence agencies and law enforcement that involved more than 150 aircraft. At a Mar-a-Lago press briefing, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Gen. Dan Caine praised the mission as 'a testament to the dedication and unwavering commitment to justice and our resolve to hold accountable those who threaten peace and stability.' President Donald Trump joined the briefing and said he had not spoken with Russian President Vladimir Putin about the operation.
Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the capture and urged the U.S. to release the 'legitimately elected president of a sovereign country and his spouse.' The incident has heightened tensions between Washington and Moscow amid an already fraught international environment.
Meanwhile, Zelenskyy framed the episode within the larger context of the war in Ukraine. He said Russia has not shown a genuine willingness to pursue peace and continues aggressive attacks, using negotiations to buy time and employing provocations to derail progress. Moscow has sustained large-scale drone and missile attacks on Kyiv even as international efforts aim to secure a potential peace agreement.
What This Means: The U.S. operation and the high-profile indictment mark a significant escalation in pressure on Venezuela's former leader and reverberate across international diplomacy, military posture and ongoing geopolitical tensions, particularly between the U.S. and Russia.
This report includes material contributed by The Associated Press.
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