Trump calls for 'immediate ceasefire' in Ukraine

President-elect Trump early Sunday called for an "immediate ceasefire" in the fighting between Ukraine and Russia following the fall of the Assad government in Syria and after a meeting in Paris with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

"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. There was no reason for Russia to be there in the first place," Trump posted on Truth Social.

"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," Trump added.

Trump asserted that Zelensky "would like to make a deal and stop the madness," citing the loss of hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian soldiers and civilians since Russia first invaded in early 2022.

"There should be an immediate ceasefire and negotiations should begin," Trump posted. "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. I know Vladimir well. This is his time to act. China can help. The World is waiting!"

Trump's post came hours after he met with Zelensky and French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris during his trip to the country to see the reopening of the Notre Dame cathedral.

It also came amid a tumultuous time in Syria, where President Bashar Assad fled the country on Sunday amid a rapid advance of rebel forces in Damascus.

A White House spokesperson said late Saturday that President Biden was "closely monitoring the extraordinary events in Syria and staying in constant touch with regional partners."

The Biden administration has rallied international allies to support Ukraine with billions of dollars in aid and military equipment to fight invading Russian forces since the war began in 2022. But Trump and his allies have voiced skepticism at continued U.S. support, with Trump pushing for peace talks, even as critics warn it would mean Ukraine ceding territory to Russia.