Former US President Donald Trump recently addressed speculation regarding the potential capture of Russian President Vladimir Putin, following a significant US military operation that led to the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. On January 9, 2026, Trump unequivocally dismissed the notion that the United States would undertake a similar dramatic operation against Putin, asserting that such an action was 'not necessary'. He further emphasized that he had 'always had a great relationship' with the Russian leader. The context for these remarks stems from the US military's capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife on January 3, 2026. They were subsequently transported to New York to face drug trafficking charges, an unprecedented move that sent ripples through international diplomatic circles. Reacting to this development, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made cryptic statements suggesting that if 'dictators' could be dealt with in such a manner, the 'United States knows what to do next' – remarks widely interpreted as an indirect reference to Putin amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Despite ruling out direct action against Putin, Trump conveyed his 'deep disappointment' regarding the protracted war in Ukraine, which commenced in 2022 and continues to rage. During a meeting with prominent US oil and gas executives, Trump claimed to have 'settled eight wars' and expressed his belief that the Ukraine conflict should have been one of the easier ones to resolve. He also underscored the substantial human toll of the war, citing approximately 31,000 fatalities, many of them Russian soldiers, in the preceding month, and commented on the faltering Russian economy. These statements align with broader reports indicating Trump's growing frustration with Putin's actions and a potential shift in his administration's approach to the conflict. While the original Hindustan Times headline presented the 'capture Putin' idea as a question, potentially sensationalizing it, the article's body accurately reflects Trump's denial and his nuanced stance.