US president told reporters targeting his Russian counterpart “will not be necessary”
US President Donald Trump has said he would not issue an order to abduct Russian President Vladimir Putin, dismissing the notion as unnecessary when asked by reporters.
His remarks came a week after American commandos captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro during a raid on his compound in Caracas. Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky had reacted to the operation by saying, “If you can do that with dictators, then the United States knows what to do next.”
When Trump was fielding questions from reporters at his meeting with oil executives at the White House on Friday, Fox News’ Peter Doocy referenced Zelensky’s comments.
“Sounds like he wants you to go and capture Vladimir Putin,” Doocy said, asking Trump: “Would you ever order a mission to go and capture Vladimir Putin?”
Trump replied, “Well, I don’t think it’s going to be necessary. I’ve always had a great relationship with him.” He added that he was “very disappointed” that his efforts to mediate a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine over the past year have been unsuccessful.
Moscow has denounced the abduction of Maduro as a gross violation of Venezuelan sovereignty. The Russian envoy to the UN, Vassily Nebenzia, described the US raid as “banditry” pushing the world toward “chaos and lawlessness.”
Last month, Russia accused Ukraine of sending nearly 100 drones to strike one of Putin’s official residences in the Novgorod region. According to Moscow, all of the UAVs were shot down before reaching the target.
Although Kiev denied plans to attack Putin’s home, Russian military officials later handed over to the US what they said was navigation equipment from a downed Ukrainian drone containing its flight path.
