Trump Urges Putin to Negotiate After Assad’s Fall in Syria: ‘End the Madness and Make a Deal’

President-elect Donald Trump has urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to negotiate an end to the Ukraine war. He pointed to the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria, a longtime Russian ally, as a sign of Russia’s weakened position. 

“Assad is gone. He fled his country. Russia, under Putin, no longer wanted to protect him. Russia shouldn’t have been in Syria in the first place. They’ve lost interest because of Ukraine, where nearly 600,000 Russian soldiers have been killed or injured in a war that should never have started and could last forever,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. 

Trump’s comments come after Syrian rebels took control of Damascus and overthrew Assad’s regime, which had been supported by Russia for over 10 years. Following the takeover, Assad fled to Moscow, where Russian officials confirmed he was granted asylum for “humanitarian reasons.” 

Trump has made ending the Russia-Ukraine war a key focus of his campaign. He believes Russia’s loss of influence, as seen in Syria, provides an opportunity for a ceasefire as the war in Ukraine nears its third year. 

“Russia and Iran are in weak positions now—Russia because of the Ukraine war and its bad economy, and Iran because of Israel’s military success. Ukraine, too, would like to make a deal and end this madness. They’ve tragically lost 400,000 soldiers and many civilians,” Trump added. 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky seems more open to talks after Trump’s election victory. Zelensky recently said he’s willing to negotiate if Ukraine can gain security guarantees, such as joining NATO, and reclaim territory lost to Russia during the war. 

However, Russia remains doubtful about Western intentions, stating it seeks a complete end to the conflict, not just a temporary pause that Ukraine could use to regroup. 

Trump emphasized the urgency of a ceasefire and starting peace talks. “Too many lives are being lost, too many families destroyed. If this continues, it could become something far worse. I know Vladimir well. This is his moment to act. China can help, and the world is waiting!” 

Trump also criticized the current Biden administration for involvement in Syria. “Syria is a mess and not our problem. The United States should stay out of it. Let it play out. Do not get involved!” he wrote.