Russia abandoned Assad in Syria over Ukraine war – Trump

(Reuters) – Russia abandoned Syrian President Bashar al Assad, leading to his downfall, and Moscow should never have sought to protect it only to lose interest over Ukraine’s war, US President-elect Donald Trump said on Sunday.

“Assad is no longer here. He fled his country. His protector, Russia, Russia, Russia, led by (President) Vladimir Putin, was no longer interested in protecting him,” Donald Trump wrote on the Truth Social network.

“There was no reason for Russia to be there in the first place,” he added.

“They have lost all interest in Syria because of Ukraine (…) a war that should never have started and could last forever,” he continued.

Donald Trump, who will officially take office on January 20, further notes that Russia and Iran, another supporter of Bashar al Assad, “are currently weakened, one because of Ukraine and a bad economy , the other because of Israel and its successes in combat.

The billionaire, who said he would seek to quickly end the war in Ukraine, met Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelensky on Saturday in Paris for the reopening ceremony of Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral.

He noted that both Russia and Ukraine had suffered hundreds of thousands of troop deaths and injuries, and Ukraine had lost many civilians.

According to Donald Trump, Volodimir Zelensky “would like to reach an agreement and put an end to the madness (…)”.

“There should be an immediate ceasefire and negotiations should begin,” he said on Truth Social

“I know Vladimir well. This is the time for him to act. China can help him. The world is waiting!”, he added.

(Written by Frances Kerry; French version Claude Chendjou)