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That would probably end the war in Ukraine fairly quickly.
The rhythm of wartime diplomacy in Kyiv shifted abruptly over the weekend, as global attention turned from negotiations in Europe to an unexpected development in Latin America.
A sudden U.S. military announcement cast a shadow over talks focused on ending Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, prompting an unusually light moment from President Volodymyr Zelensky.
When asked about a U.S. operation in Venezuela, Zelensky responded with a smile that drew laughter from reporters.
“What can I say here? If this can be done to dictators, then the United States of America knows what to do next,” he said.
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According to U.S. President Donald Trump, American special forces had captured Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro during what he described as a “large-scale operation.” U.S. authorities said Maduro would face trial in the United States on charges linked to drug trafficking and terrorism.
Talks in Kyiv
European allies were in Kyiv on Saturday to examine the latest draft of a plan aimed at ending the war with Russia. The meeting came ahead of a planned “Coalition of the Willing” summit in France next week.
A Ukrainian official told AFP that Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, joined the discussions remotely.
Despite the focus on Ukraine’s security, the surprise intervention in Venezuela dominated side conversations during the day of diplomacy.
Push for U.S. summit
Zelensky later told reporters that Kyiv hopes to convene a high-level summit in the United States by the end of January, according to Reuters.
He said national security advisers from 18 countries discussed security guarantees, economic arrangements and possible next steps. Follow-up talks are expected in Paris next week, and later with U.S. negotiators.
“And after that… we will prepare for a meeting in the United States at the leadership level. We would like all this to happen in January, by the end of January,” Zelensky said.
“If Russia blocks all this, if our partners do not force Russia to end the war, there will be only one way: to defend ourselves,” he added.
Sources: Reuters, AFP, X
