'Maduro is on trial', 'Putin is not,' Ukraine's President Zelenskiy says

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy criticized the international justice system at the World Economic Forum, saying it’s unjust that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro is in a U.S. jail while Russian President Vladimir Putin remains free amid the ongoing war.

Margaryta Chornokondratenko/Reuters

January 22, 2026

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy speaks to the media at the 56th annual World Economic Forum (WEF) meeting in Davos, Switzerland, January 22, 2026.

Romina Amato/Reuters

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy voiced frustration over the fact that Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro was in a U.S. jail while Russian President Vladimir Putin remained free.

Zelenskiy made his comments while addressing World Economic Forum on Thursday (January 22).

Maduro is in a U.S. jail after his capture by the U.S. forces earlier in January.

-Margaryta Chornokondratenko/Reuters

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy voiced frustration over the fact that Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro was in a U.S. jail while Russian President Vladimir Putin remained free.

Zelenskiy made his comments while addressing World Economic Forum on Thursday (January 22).

Maduro is in a U.S. jail after his capture by the U.S. forces earlier in January.

-Margaryta Chornokondratenko/Reuters