Donald Trump has urged a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, citing the apparent collapse of Syria’s Bashar al-Assad regime as an opportunity to bring about peace in the region. In a post on his Truth Social website, the president-elect argued that Russia is in a “weakened state” due to its involvement in the ongoing conflict with Ukraine.
Trump claimed that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky wants to make a deal and stop the war, and accused Putin of losing interest in Syria because of the devastating losses suffered by Russian soldiers. He also stated that Russia’s economy is struggling due to sanctions imposed by Israel.
The president-elect concluded that an immediate ceasefire and negotiations are necessary to prevent further bloodshed and destruction. Trump asserted that he knows Putin well and believes it is his time to act, with China potentially providing support.
However, Dmitry Peskov, Putin’s press secretary, denied the casualty figures cited by Trump, claiming they are “presented in the Ukrainian interpretation” and may be incorrect. Newsweek has contacted both Russian and Ukrainian foreign ministries for comment on the matter.
The collapse of the Assad regime comes after a lightning-fast rebel offensive that began on November 27 and resulted in the capture of several key cities. The Syrian civil war, which began in 2011, has claimed over 507,000 lives, making it one of the bloodiest conflicts of the 21st century.
The United States has maintained a presence in eastern Syria to ensure the defeat of ISIS, and Daniel Shapiro, U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for the Middle East, stated that if the Assad regime truly falls, “no one should shed any tears over its demise.”
Source: https://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-sends-message-putin-assad-flees-damascus-1997274