Donald Trump Sends Message to Putin As Assad Flees Damascus

In a detailed social media post, Donald Trump has called for a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine while mentioning the reported collapse of Syria’s Bashar al-Assad regime.

Trump shared his thoughts early Sunday on Truth Social, stating that Russia is in a “weakened state” due to its war in Ukraine. He also suggested Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is eager to negotiate peace, describing the ongoing conflict as "madness."

The apparent downfall of Assad’s regime unfolded over the weekend as Syrian rebel forces entered Damascus, marking the end of the 24-year rule of Assad.

Trump’s post read:

“Assad is gone. He has fled his country. His protector, Russia, led by Vladimir Putin, no longer wanted to defend him. Russia lost interest in Syria due to the disastrous Ukraine war, where nearly 600,000 Russian soldiers are dead or wounded. This war should never have started and risks lasting indefinitely.

"Russia and Iran are now in weakened positions—Russia because of Ukraine, and Iran due to Israel's successful operations. Similarly, Ukraine has reportedly lost 400,000 soldiers, alongside countless civilians. Enough is enough.”

He urged for immediate negotiations, adding, “This is Putin’s moment to act, with help from China. The world is watching!”

Dmitry Peskov, Putin’s spokesperson, refuted Trump’s casualty figures, labeling them as reflective of Ukraine’s narrative rather than factual data.

Trump’s remarks coincided with his visit to Paris for Notre Dame Cathedral’s reopening. There, he met Zelensky and French President Emmanuel Macron, describing the world’s state as “a little crazy right now.”

The Syrian civil war, which has spanned over a decade, has claimed more than 507,000 lives. Assad’s regime faced widespread protests in 2011, escalating into one of the bloodiest conflicts of the 21st century. Russia’s 2015 intervention, alongside Iran and Hezbollah, played a key role in propping up Assad's government.

The conflict also saw the rise of ISIS, a group that at its height controlled vast regions of Syria and Iraq, leading to widespread global terror. U.S.-led efforts eradicated ISIS’s territorial control by late 2019, including the killing of its leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.

Meanwhile, HTS, a rebel group led by former al-Qaeda affiliate Abu Mohammad al-Julani, spearheaded the recent offensive on Damascus. Al-Julani, still under a $10 million U.S. bounty, has claimed a shift in ideology, pledging protection for Syria’s minority communities.