Zelenskyy says ‘US knows what to do next’ after Trump reveals capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro

President Donald Trump and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy shake hands at the start of a joint news conference following a meeting at Trump's Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Fla. (AP File Photo)

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has reacted to the United States’ capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and suggested that US President Donald Trump’s administration “knows what to do next” when they are dealing with dictators. The Ukrainian leader, however, did not name anyone nor did he refer to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Ukraine is engaged in a bruising yearslong battle with its larger neighbour Russia.

Zelenskyy made the remarks after meeting European national security advisers. Zelenskyy was asked to respond to the Trump administration’s military action against Venezuela, which included bombing key sites besides the stunning capture of the country’s leader.

What can I say here? If this can be done to dictators, like that, then the United States of America know what they should do next. pic.twitter.com/uofl0Tcjxa

Zelenskyy, with a smile, said: “How should I react to this? What can I say? If it is possible to deal with dictators like that, just like that, then the United States of America knows what to do next.”

His remarks came a day after the US military carried out an attack on Venezuela and captured Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores in Caracas and flew them to the US to face trial.

Maduro landed at a small airport in New York on Saturday evening (local time) following the midnight operation by the US forces. The couple face federal charges of participating in a narco-terrorism conspiracy.

The Trump administration has characterised the ouster of Maduro as a step that will gradually reduce the flow of drugs into the US. President Trump stated that America will run Venezuela and that attacking Caracas has potential benefits, including a leadership stake in the country and greater control of oil.

During a press briefing at Mar-a-Lago, Trump said: “We’re going to run the country until such time as we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition. This extremely successful operation should serve as a warning to anyone who would threaten American sovereignty or endanger American lives,” AP reported.