President-elect Donald Trump called for an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine Sunday following his meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Paris, suggesting Kyiv “would like to make a deal” to end the 1,000-day conflict.
“There should be an immediate ceasefire and negotiations should begin. Too many lives are being needlessly wasted, too many families destroyed,” Trump posted on Truth Social, urging Russian President Vladimir Putin to help end the fighting. The statement followed what Zelenskyy described as a “constructive” meeting with Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron.
Zelenskyy, while open to peace, emphasized that any agreement “should be just” for Ukrainians, “so that Russia and Putin or any other aggressors will not have the opportunity to return.” The Ukrainian leader revealed Sunday that his nation has suffered 43,000 military deaths and 370,000 wounded since Russia’s February 2022 invasion.
Western officials report that recent months of positional warfare in eastern Ukraine have produced record casualties on both sides, with tens of thousands killed and wounded monthly, though both nations have generally avoided publishing official figures.
The Paris discussions marked a significant diplomatic moment as Trump prepares to return to the White House, where his approach to the Ukraine conflict could dramatically shift U.S. policy in the region.
The Pentagon announced Saturday a new $988 million military assistance package for Ukraine, as the Biden administration accelerates aid delivery before President-elect Donald Trump assumes office in January.
The package, funded through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI), nearly depletes half of the remaining $2.21 billion allocated for purchasing weapons directly from defense contractors. It includes drones, HIMARS rocket launcher ammunition, and various equipment and spare parts for artillery systems, tanks, and armored vehicles.
Unlike Presidential Drawdown Authority shipments, which transfer existing U.S. military stocks, USAI funds purchase new equipment from manufacturers, meaning a longer timeline for battlefield delivery. The announcement follows Monday’s $725 million package that included landmines and anti-air weapons.
The urgency reflects growing concerns about future U.S. support for Ukraine under Trump, who has repeatedly criticized American assistance to Kyiv and claimed he could quickly negotiate a ceasefire. The United States has led international support for Ukraine since Russia’s 2022 invasion, coordinating aid from dozens of countries and committing more than $62 billion in security assistance.
The Biden administration retains approximately $6 billion in presidential drawdown authority, including newly authorized 2024 funds and additional money discovered after Pentagon accounting adjustments. However, uncertainty about continued support has raised anxiety in Kyiv and among European allies about Ukraine’s ability to resist Russian forces without sustained American backing.
Israeli strikes killed six people in southern Lebanon Saturday and at least 34 Palestinians in Gaza, officials reported, as violence persists despite recent ceasefire agreements in both territories.
Lebanon’s health ministry confirmed five deaths and five injuries in Beit Lif from an Israeli airstrike, while a separate drone strike killed one person in Deir Seryan, more than 20 kilometers away. The Israeli military acknowledged striking a Hezbollah militant who they said posed a threat to troops, violating the November 27 ceasefire.
Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati urged “the international community, particularly the parties sponsoring security arrangements, to work seriously and decisively to halt the ongoing violations.” A U.S.-led committee including France, UN peacekeepers, Israel, and Lebanon oversees the fragile truce.
In Gaza, health officials reported an Israeli strike on a Gaza City house killed four women late Saturday, part of at least 34 Palestinian deaths throughout the day. The territory’s Hamas-run health ministry, which doesn’t differentiate between civilian and militant casualties, has recorded approximately 44,500 Palestinian deaths since Israel’s counteroffensive began following Hamas’ October 7 attack that killed 1,200 Israelis.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken had earlier declared the Lebanon ceasefire was “holding” despite incidents, though both sides face accusations of violations. The UN warns nearly Gaza’s entire population of 2.3 million faces famine risk, with three-quarters already displaced.
Explosions tore through a residential building in The Hague early Saturday, killing at least five people and injuring four others, as authorities search for additional victims amid the rubble of the three-story structure.
The blasts occurred around 6:15 a.m. local time in the Tarwekamp neighborhood, The Hague, destroying several homes and prompting a massive emergency response. Mayor Jan van Zanen warned that hopes of finding survivors were diminishing and urged the community to “prepare for a worst case scenario.”
Dutch police reported a vehicle fleeing “at very high speed” shortly after the explosions, though the cause remains under investigation. Rescue teams with sniffer dogs are searching the debris, while some areas remain too hazardous to access.
“I was asleep and suddenly there was this huge bang,” said 14-year-old Adam Muller. “I looked out of the window and just saw flames. It’s a massive shock.”
Dutch King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima expressed sympathy for those affected, while National Police Commissioner Janny Knol acknowledged the “disbelief and uncertainty” gripping the community.
Emergency crews have brought in heavy equipment and lighting to assist with the ongoing search and recovery operation. While earlier reports suggested up to 20 people might have been in the building, officials declined to specify how many residents remain unaccounted for.
The New York Police Department released two new surveillance photos Saturday of the masked individual sought in Wednesday’s killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, as investigators believe the suspect may have fled the state.
The latest images show the person of interest wearing a blue medical mask and dark clothing, captured through a taxi partition and walking alongside a vehicle. Police say they’ve tracked some of the suspect’s movements by taxi to the Port Authority bus station near the George Washington Bridge.
Investigators revealed the suspect likely arrived in New York from Atlanta by Greyhound bus on November 24. While staying at an Upper West Side hostel, roommates reported he kept his mask on constantly, only lowering it briefly to eat. Police are working to determine if he used cash and false identification for his accommodation.
“Based on the evidence we have so far, it does appear the victim was specifically targeted,” said NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny, noting shell casings found at the scene were inscribed with the words “deny,” “delay” and “depose.”
Thompson was shot in the back and calf outside the New York Hilton Midtown while heading to UnitedHealth Group’s investor conference. His wife Paulette told NBC News he had received threats related to “lack of coverage,” though she was unclear about specifics.
A combined $60,000 reward from the FBI, Crime Stoppers, and NYPD is being offered for information leading to an arrest. Police recovered a gray backpack in Central Park and a cellphone near the scene, though no weapon was found.
Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia conceded defeat Sunday to opposition leader John Dramani Mahama in Ghana’s presidential election, as voters rejected the ruling party’s handling of the nation’s worst economic crisis in a generation.
“I’ve just called His Excellency John Mahama to congratulate him as president-elect of the Republic of Ghana,” Bawumia announced at his Accra residence, ahead of official results. Mahama, 65, who previously served as president from 2012 to 2017, described his victory as “emphatic” on social media.
Celebrations erupted across the capital as supporters wearing the opposition National Democratic Congress’s white, green, red and black colors danced to music and trumpet blasts. The party also secured a parliamentary majority, strengthening Mahama’s mandate to implement his promised economic “reset.”
“I think it has to do with the economy, which is largely a bread and butter issue for every Ghanaian,” said Seidu Alidu, head of political science at Ghana’s University of Legon. The election reflects global trends favoring opposition parties against incumbents struggling with economic challenges.
The vote, conducted amid West Africa’s regional instability, tested Ghana’s democratic traditions. Policy analyst Jude Agbemava called Mahama “the only person” capable of fixing Ghana’s troubled economy, while Alidu noted the result stemmed from public dissatisfaction with government transparency during the crisis.
Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed Sunday that former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has left Syria and relinquished power, marking a dramatic end to his family’s decades-long rule over the country.
Former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad
“As a result of negotiations between Bashar Assad and a number of participants in the armed conflict on the territory of the Syrian Arab Republic, he decided to leave the presidential post and left the country, giving instructions to transfer power peacefully,” the ministry stated, without revealing Assad’s destination.
Syrian Prime Minister Mohammad Ghazi Al-Jalali told Al-Arabi TV he was prepared to resign and had been contacted by rebel leader Ahmad Al-Shara regarding the transfer of power. Al-Jalali confirmed he had requested Al-Shara’s help in redeploying police forces in Damascus, though he admitted being unable to reach Assad.
Image of Assad toppled by his former subjects
Russia expressed “extreme concern” over the developments and said it maintains contact with all Syrian opposition groups. Meanwhile, U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Daniel Shapiro announced at Bahrain’s Manama Dialogue that American forces would continue operations in eastern Syria to prevent any ISIS resurgence during the transition.
“We are aware that the chaotic and dynamic circumstances on the ground in Syria could give ISIS space to find the ability to become active,” Shapiro said, emphasizing continued U.S. commitment to regional stability.
Crowds filled Damascus streets Sunday with chants, prayers and sporadic celebratory gunfire as opposition forces consolidated control of the capital, marking the apparent end of Bashar Assad’s rule while mystery surrounds the president’s whereabouts.
Rami Abdurrahman, head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group, reported Assad departed Damascus by air early Sunday, though no official government statement has confirmed his location. The developments come just hours after opposition forces seized control of Homs, Syria’s third-largest city, which government forces abandoned without resistance.
The stunning collapse of Assad’s government prompted immediate response from neighboring states. Lebanon announced closure of all land border crossings with Syria except the Beirut-Damascus route, while Jordan completely sealed its frontier with the country.
The opposition’s entry into Damascus represents their first presence in the capital since 2018, when government forces had pushed them from the city’s outskirts after a prolonged siege. Their lightning advance has dramatically altered the region’s political landscape within days.
The celebration in Damascus marks a stark reversal for a city that has remained under tight government control throughout most of Syria’s civil conflict, as residents openly display support for the opposition that has now gained control of the capital.
Syrian state television broadcast a statement from the “Operations Room to Conquer Damascus” announcing President Bashar Assad’s overthrow and the liberation of all prisoners. The declaration came as reports emerged that Assad had fled the country, with Prime Minister Mohammed Ghazi Jalali confirming he had lost contact with the president late Saturday.
“I did not sleep last night, and I refused to sleep until I heard the news of his fall,” said Mohammed Amer Al-Oulabi, 44, an electricity sector worker, as Damascus residents gathered in mosques and squares, chanting “God is great” and anti-Assad slogans. Teenagers wielded weapons apparently abandoned by security forces.
The historically pro-government al-Watan newspaper acknowledged the revolution’s success, writing: “We are facing a new page for Syria. We thank God for not shedding more blood.” A statement from Assad’s Alawite sect urged youth to remain “calm, rational and prudent.”
The rebels’ advance since November 27 saw major cities fall in quick succession as Assad’s traditional allies – Russia, Iran, and Hezbollah – withdrew support while facing other conflicts. The opposition is led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which has attempted to remake its image by breaking ties with al-Qaida and promising religious tolerance.
UN Special Envoy Geir Pedersen called for urgent Geneva talks to ensure an “orderly political transition,” while Qatar hosted emergency meetings with regional powers including Iran, Saudi Arabia, Russia, and Turkey to discuss stability and “safe transition.”
President-elect Donald Trump declared Sunday that Russia’s abandonment of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad led to his regime’s collapse, while arguing Moscow should never have intervened in Syria’s civil war.
“Assad is gone. He has fled his country. His protector, Russia, Russia, Russia, led by (President) Vladimir Putin, was not interested in protecting him any longer,” Trump posted on Truth Social, his social media platform. He emphasized that Russia’s involvement in Syria was unnecessary from the start.
Trump, who takes office January 20, linked Assad’s fall to broader regional dynamics, noting both Russia and Iran are currently “in a weakened state” – Russia due to “Ukraine and a bad economy,” and Iran because of “Israel and its fighting success.”
The comments followed Trump’s meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in Paris, where both attended Notre-Dame Cathedral’s reopening ceremony. Trump advocated for immediate ceasefire negotiations in Ukraine, citing heavy casualties on both sides.
“I know Vladimir well. This is his time to act. China can help. The World is waiting!” Trump wrote, suggesting Putin should pursue peace talks. He added that Zelenskiy “would like to make a deal and stop the madness,” calling for “an immediate ceasefire and negotiations.”
Syria’s army command notified officers Sunday that President Bashar al-Assad’s rule has ended, as rebels entered Damascus and thousands celebrated in the streets, marking a stunning conclusion to the Assad family’s half-century control of the country.
Assad reportedly fled the capital by plane, according to two senior army officers who spoke to Reuters. Flight tracking data showed a Syrian Air aircraft departing Damascus airport toward the coastal region, a traditional stronghold of Assad’s Alawite sect, before making an abrupt turn and disappearing from radar.
“We celebrate with the Syrian people the news of freeing our prisoners and releasing their chains and announcing the end of the era of injustice in Sednaya prison,” rebel forces declared, referring to the notorious military detention facility outside Damascus.
Thousands gathered at Damascus’s Umayyad Square, home to the Ministry of Defense and Syrian Armed Forces headquarters, with witnesses reporting crowds chanting “Freedom” as music played and people danced around an abandoned military tank. Defense ministry officials had withdrawn from their headquarters, according to local reports.
“It’s really looking like we’re in the final hours, if not minutes, of 54 years of tyranny in Syria,” said Natasha Hall, senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies’ Middle East Program, noting that Assad’s traditional allies Iran and Russia had been “weakened and distracted” by other global events.
The Hayat Tahrir al-Sham rebel group promised a “new Syria” where “everyone lives in peace and justice prevails,” inviting displaced people and former prisoners to return home.
