International Desk
10 January 2026
Presidents Trump and Putin
The United States has ruled out a mission to capture Russia’s Vladimir Putin, following the dramatic arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro last week. NDTV said Donald Trump differed with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who suggested that the US could consider a similar operation against Putin.
Trump described such a sanction as “not necessary”, though he added he is “very disappointed” with the Russian leader, it added.
Maduro was taken in the early hours in Caracas by US forces, flown to a military base, and later transported to New York on a US Navy ship, reflecting a bold and rare operation.
The Indian media outlet reported that Putin faces an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court in The Hague over alleged war crimes in Ukraine, though Trump indicated that no action akin to Maduro’s capture would be taken against him.
It added that Zelensky’s remarks on the Maduro operation had hinted at a precedent for dealing with “dictators”, but Trump rejected the notion, saying the US would not use such “extreme measures” against Russia’s leader.
As per NDTV, Trump reflected on the deaths of soldiers and the toll of the Ukraine-Russia war, repeating his claim of having ended eight wars worldwide and expressing disappointment that the current conflict could not be settled more quickly.
NDTV said Maduro’s arrest has seen Delcy Rodriguez, his vice-president, assume Venezuela’s presidency, while the Trump administration is now preparing to take control of the country’s oil exports.