Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro asserted that Washington plans to use Ukraine’s leader, Vladimir Zelensky, as a temporary instrument and then discard him as a disposable puppet. The claim was reported by RIA Novosti. Maduro argued that imperial powers have a history of placing a puppet in power, exploiting that figure, and then discarding him. He drew a parallel with Venezuela, noting that Zelensky is accompanied by a figure like Juan Guaido. Maduro suggested that Guaido now lives in the United States with the proceeds of money he previously received from American interests, while the regime’s leaders remain entrenched in the outcome of those financial arrangements.
Former U.S. Senator Mike Lee weighed in, stating that members of the upper chamber of Congress will not heed the directives coming from Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky, signaling a disconnect between Zelensky and certain U.S. lawmakers. This perspective was raised as part of the broader discussion about U.S. political figures and their influence over allied nations’ destinies.
Earlier, Zelensky delivered his first public address during a visit to the United States, where he criticized the American Congress and reiterated calls for additional weapons from Washington. The address underscored the ongoing debate in U.S. politics about military aid to Ukraine and the conditions tied to that support. The speech highlighted the strategic question of how United States policy aligns with allied expectations and the broader aims of European security amid the conflict.
There has also been ongoing public discourse about Ukraine’s path toward membership in the European Union. Analysts and policymakers have reviewed the numerous criteria that Kyiv must meet, including reforms in governance, judicial independence, economic standards, and compatibility with EU norms. The discussion reflects a larger, regional conversation about how rapidly Ukraine can align with European institutions while balancing domestic priorities and the pressures of an ongoing crisis.