'If it's possible to deal with dictators...': Zelenskyy reacts to Trump attacking Venezuela and says 'US knows what to do next'

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reacted to the US operation in Venezuela and said that “If it’s possible to deal with dictators this way, then the US knows what to do next.”

The comment came during a news conference after he met with European national security advisors, according to ABC News. Zelenskyy did not mention anyone by name, but social media noted he likely had Russia and the ongoing war in Ukraine in mind.

His comment drew laughter from reporters in the room.

The statement comes as US President Donald Trump announced that American forces had captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife in an overnight raid in Caracas.




Trump said a team including secretary of state Marco Rubio and secretary of defence Pete Hegseth, working with Venezuelan officials, would oversee the country. “We are going to run the country until such time as we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition,” he said.

The MAGA chief also claimed that the military operation was part of his “America First” priorities, claiming it would protect US regional security and secure a steady source of oil and help increase business.

Trump also compared the operation to past conflicts, like the Ukraine-Russia one, saying, “When I watch that war in Russia going on and on and on and everybody dying. It’s primitive. It’s horrible. It’s horrible, it’s really horrible.”

The GOP leader pledged that American energy companies would help rebuild Venezuela’s infrastructure and did not rule out sending troops back if necessary. “We’re not afraid of boots on the ground…we had boots on the ground last night,” he told reporters.

Meanwhile, China condemned the operation as reckless, while some Republican lawmakers supported Trump’s move. Democrats expressed concern over the lack of congressional consultation and the risk of a full-fledged war.