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.”
