President-elect Donald Trump urged Russia to negotiate an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine following the sudden fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria — declaring that Moscow is in a “weakened state” due to the ongoing war and economic struggles.
“There should be an immediate ceasefire, and negotiations should begin. Too many lives are being so needlessly wasted, too many families destroyed, and if it keeps going, it can turn into something much bigger, and far worse,” Trump, 78, wrote on Truth Social early Sunday.
His remarks came after the swift collapse of Assad’s government, which Russia’s military had propped up might for over a decade. Islamist rebels, led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), launched a surprising offensive on Damascus last month, taking advantage of Russia’s focus on Ukraine and Iran’s struggles with Israel.
Syrian state television confirmed Assad, his British-born wife Asma al-Assad, and their three children had fled the country, though their destination remains unknown.
In his post, Trump pointed out Russia’s failure to protect Assad, saying, “Assad is gone. He has fled his country.
His protector, Russia, Russia, led by Vladimir Putin, was no longer interested in protecting him. They lost all interest in Syria because of Ukraine, where close to 600,000 Russian soldiers lay wounded or dead, in a war that should never have started and could go on forever.”
Trump argued that Russia’s setbacks in Ukraine and Iran’s weakened state — strained by economic issues and Israel’s military successes — present an opportunity for peace negotiations.
“Russia and Iran are in a weakened state right now, one because of Ukraine and a bad economy, the other because of Israel and its fighting success,” he stated.
Some analysts suggest Russia’s recent territorial gains in Ukraine may be an attempt to strengthen its position before Trump’s inauguration.
Trump, who has consistently voiced a desire to end the war between Kyiv and Moscow, declared that diplomacy should be a priority. “Likewise, Zelenskyy and Ukraine want to make a deal and stop the madness. They have ridiculously lost 400,000 soldiers and many more civilians,” he added.
The president-elect also warned of the risks of prolonging the conflict. “Too many lives are being so needlessly wasted, too many families destroyed, and if it keeps going, it can turn into something much bigger and far worse.”
During a recent meeting in Paris to celebrate the reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral, Trump conferred with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and French President Emmanuel Macron.
Zelensky, 46, reiterated his commitment to “a just and enduring peace” and criticised Putin for being “addicted to war.”
Zelensky, who has long insisted on Ukraine reclaiming all territory lost since 1991 — including Donbas and Crimea — has recently softened his stance. He hinted at openness to ending the war if Ukraine can diplomatically join NATO and resolve territorial issues.
Trump’s call for a ceasefire comes amid dramatic shifts in Syria. The collapse of Assad’s regime revealed the limitations of Russia’s military influence, as it failed to prevent the fall of its ally.
HTS, with links to extremist factions, launched the offensive knowing Russia was overstretched in Ukraine and Iran was weakened by Israel’s strikes on proxy groups like Hezbollah.
Amid these developments, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced a $1 billion military aid package for Ukraine on Saturday, underscoring the U.S.’s ongoing support for Kyiv.
Trump’s appeal to Russia reflects his consistent message of ending unnecessary wars. “I know Vladimir [Putin] well. This is his time to act. China can help.
The World is waiting!” he declared, suggesting that global powers must seize this moment to prevent further destruction.
