Washington, D.C: US President Donald Trump said it would not be necessary to order a mission to capture Russian President Vladimir Putin, even as some international figures have invoked the idea following a high-profile American operation to apprehend former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
When asked by Fox News correspondent Peter Doocy whether he would consider sending US forces to seize Putin in the same manner as Maduro, Trump replied, “I don’t think it’s going to be necessary… I’ve always had a great relationship with him.” Trump’s comments came during a press briefing focused on foreign policy developments, particularly in Latin America.
Trump expressed disappointment over the ongoing war in Ukraine and acknowledged friction with Putin over the conflict, but maintained that outright capture of the Russian leader was not on the agenda. He touted his past diplomatic interactions with Putin and framed the relationship as historically positive despite disagreements, and suggested that current circumstances did not call for such drastic measures.
The question of capturing Putin arose in the context of recent US military action in Venezuela, where Maduro was detained by American forces in a covert operation that drew global attention. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had referenced Maduro’s capture while discussing accountability for authoritarian leaders, reported NDTV World.
Analysts have noted that Trump’s response reflects both a caution about provoking Russia — a nuclear-armed state and a major geopolitical actor — and a desire to keep diplomatic channels open even amid disagreements over Ukraine and other issues.
The remarks underline the balance Trump asserts between confronting adversaries and preserving personal diplomatic relationships, even as global tensions persist, say experts.
