Maduro in Court, But Putin Is Not: Zelensky Criticizes the West

During his speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky criticized the West for its failure to hold Russian President Vladimir Putin accountable for Russia's war against Ukraine.

Zelensky drew attention to the U.S. military operation in Venezuela that resulted in the arrest of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, who is accused by U.S. authorities of participating in global drug trafficking under an order from former President Donald Trump. “The fact remains: Maduro is in a New York court. Excuse me, but Putin is not, and this is the fourth year of the biggest war in Europe since the Second World War. And the man who started it is not only free but is still fighting for his frozen assets in Europe, and you know what? He is achieving certain successes. That’s true. It is Putin who is trying to decide how Russia's frozen assets should be used. Not those who have the power to punish him for this war,” he emphasized.

“There has still been no real progress in establishing a special court for Russian aggression against Ukraine and its people. We have an agreement, that’s true. Many meetings have taken place, but Europe has not even reached the stage of having a building for the court, of being staffed, and of actually doing work within its walls. What is lacking—time or political will?” he questioned. According to the Ukrainian President, “very often in Europe there is always something more urgent than justice.”