On Sunday morning, President-elect Trump urged for an “immediate ceasefire” in the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia. His statement followed the recent fall of the Assad government in Syria and a meeting in Paris with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Trump remarked that “Assad is gone. He has fled his country. His protector, Russia, led by Vladimir Putin, was not interested in protecting him any longer. There was no reason for Russia to be there in the first place,” as he shared on Truth Social.
Trump’s statement highlights the staggering loss of life in the ongoing Ukraine war
He further elaborated, stating that “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.”
According to Trump, Zelensky is eager to reach an agreement and end the violence, highlighting the significant loss of life among Ukrainian soldiers and civilians since Russia’s invasion in early 2022.
Trump declared, “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. I know Vladimir well. This is his time to act. China can help. The world is waiting!”
His comments followed a meeting with Zelensky and French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris, where he visited to witness the reopening of the Notre Dame Cathedral. The backdrop of his call for peace coincided with chaotic developments in Syria, where President Bashar Assad fled amid a swift advance by rebel forces in Damascus.
A spokesperson for the White House stated late Saturday that President Biden is “closely monitoring the extraordinary events in Syria and staying in constant touch with regional partners.” Since the war began in 2022, the Biden administration has mobilized international allies to provide Ukraine with billions of dollars in aid and military support to combat Russian aggression.
However, Trump and his allies have expressed skepticism regarding ongoing U.S. support, with Trump advocating for peace negotiations, even as critics warn this could necessitate Ukraine giving up territory to Russia.
