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On Friday, Dmitri Medvedev, the former Russian president and current deputy chairman of the Russian Security Council, stated that the U.S. kidnapping of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro marks a turbulent opening for international relations in 2026.

“The year got off to a turbulent start. Above all, its opening will be remembered for the abduction of Maduro. This, of course, was an utterly vile act of thuggery — or, to put it more elegantly, a full-blown catastrophe for international relations,” he posted on Telegram.

“As things stand, there are only two possible scenarios. Either the United States quietly releases the kidnapped Venezuelan president under some face-saving pretext — which is unlikely — or he turns into the Latin American version of Nelson Mandela. The latter seems more probable.”

“In that case, his name will be etched into South American history right alongside Bolivar, Miranda and Chavez. And even if Trump, out of sheer stubbornness, refuses to pardon Maduro later, public pressure will almost certainly force Vance or another successor to do so,” Medvedev said.