US President-elect Donald Trump has attributed the downfall of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to Russia’s abandonment of him. In a social media post on Sunday, Trump stated that Russia, led by Vladimir Putin, lost interest in protecting Assad due to its involvement in Ukraine.
Trump claimed there was no reason for Russia to be involved in Syria and that their withdrawal has left Assad’s other main backer, Iran, in a weakened state. He expressed his desire to halt the Ukraine war rapidly and called on Russian President Putin to act immediately.
During his meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in Paris, Trump reiterated his support for an immediate ceasefire and negotiations in Ukraine. He also highlighted the significant human cost of the conflict, stating that hundreds of thousands of troops and civilians have been affected.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/world/trump-says-russia-abandoned-syrias-assad-never-should-have-been-involved-2024-12-08