UK defense secretary backs ‘Maduro-style’ extraction for Putin during Kyiv visit

British Defense Secretary John Healey, during a high-stakes visit to the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv, leveled sharp rhetoric at Russian President Vladimir Putin, suggesting he would seize the leader to face justice for war crimes if given the opportunity.

When asked by a journalist which world leader he would kidnap if he had the chance, Healey did not hesitate, identifying Putin as his primary choice.

Speaking in front of a multi-story residential building heavily damaged by a Russian drone strike, as reported by The Kyiv Independent, Healey elaborated on his stance. “I would take Putin into custody and hold him accountable for war crimes. I would do this because of what I witnessed in Bucha during one of my first visits to Ukraine and because of the kidnapping of Ukrainian children,” he stated.

“This man must be stopped”

Gesturing toward the damaged structure, the British minister emphasized that the scene encapsulated everything one needs to understand about Putin and his strategic intentions.

Healey asserted that the Russian leader is not merely “waging war against the Ukrainian military, but is also targeting civilians and critical infrastructure essential for the winter months.” He added, “This man must be stopped. This war must be stopped. Our duty is to support Ukraine in its current struggle and help secure peace.”

The “leader kidnapping” question posed to Healey follows in the immediate wake of a controversial US special operation in Venezuela that has sent shockwaves through the international community.

On the night of January 3, the US special operations unit Delta Force abducted Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, in a lightning raid and transported them to the US. The couple, detained on charges of “narco-terrorism,” illegal weapons possession, and drug trafficking, were captured in an operation that US President Donald Trump claimed lasted exactly two hours and 20 minutes.

Following this development, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy offered an assessment clearly aimed at Putin, stating, “If this is how dictators can be treated, it means the United States knows what to do next.”

Against this backdrop, journalists questioned President Trump on whether a “Venezuela scenario” was a possibility for Putin. While not explicitly ruling out the prospect, Trump gave an evasive reply, saying, “I don’t think that will be necessary.”

The International Criminal Court (ICC) previously issued an arrest warrant for Vladimir Putin in March 2023, citing the unlawful deportation of Ukrainian children to Russia. The court also issued a warrant for Maria Lvova-Belova, Russia’s Commissioner for Children’s Rights, under the same charges.