President-elect Donald Trump called on Russia to pursue peace talks to end the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, particularly after the fall of the Assad regime in Syria. He highlighted Russia’s vulnerability, noting the impact of the war and the “bad economy” on the nation’s ability to maintain its stance.
“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,” Trump, 78, posted on Truth Social Sunday.
“I know Vladimir [Putin] well. This is his time to act. China can help. The World is waiting!”
Russia has been publicly hesitant about agreeing to a ceasefire, claiming that it would give Ukraine time to fortify its defenses. Moscow has also insisted that Ukraine withdraw from territories it annexed, despite not having full control over those regions.
The incoming president, who has consistently indicated a desire to bring an end to the war, met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and French President Emmanuel Macron during the reopening of the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris last Saturday.
Trump, who has often shown a particular interest in Russian leader Vladimir Putin, reflected on Russia’s diminished presence in Syria following the sudden collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s regime, a government Moscow had supported with military aid, including troops, aircraft, and navy ships.
“Assad is gone. He has fled his country. His protector, Russia, Russia, Russia, led by Vladimir Putin, was not interested in protecting him any longer,” Trump mused. “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.
“Russia and Iran are in a weakened state right now, one because of Ukraine and a bad economy, the other because of Israel and its fighting success.”
Some analysts have suggested that Russia is working to strengthen its position ahead of potential future peace talks, as the country has recently made significant territorial advances in Ukraine.
Trump has consistently expressed his goal to bring an end to the brutal war between Ukraine and Russia, although he has provided few details on how he plans to achieve that goal.
“Likewise, Zelenskyy and Ukraine would like to make a deal and stop the madness. They have ridiculously lost 400,000 soldiers, and many more civilians,” he added on Truth Social.
“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.”
Following his meeting with Trump, Zelensky, 46, emphasized his desire for “a just and enduring peace” and criticized Putin for being “addicted to war.”
In recent weeks, Zelensky, who had long insisted on returning to the 1991 borders (which would involve reclaiming Donbas and Crimea), seemed to soften his position, suggesting that the war could end if Ukraine is allowed to join NATO and pursue further territorial claims through diplomatic means.
Trump’s appeal to Putin comes amid significant changes in Syria, where Russia had long supported Assad’s regime, one of the most notorious in recent history.
Syrian rebels, led by the extremist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), launched a major offensive late last month, reigniting what had been a largely dormant civil war.
HTS and other rebel forces advanced on Damascus, claiming to have overthrown the regime. HTS, which has known ties to Islamic extremism, appeared to launch the offensive while Assad’s ally, Russia, was distracted by its involvement in Ukraine, and Iran’s forces, including Hezbollah, had been significantly weakened by Israeli actions, leaving the regime vulnerable.
Before the regime’s collapse, Trump had publicly advocated for the United States to refrain from intervening in Syria due to the complex dynamics at play.
On Monday, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin revealed a $1 billion military aid package for Ukraine.
{Matzav.com}
