US President-elect Donald Trump stated on Sunday that Russia had no intention of safeguarding Syrian President Bashar al-Assad or preventing him from fleeing the country.

Assad left Syria, seeking refuge in an undisclosed location following the takeover of the capital, Damascus, by opposition groups early on Sunday. This occurred nearly a week after these groups gained control of Aleppo, a key city in northern Syria.

In a Truth Social post, Trump said, “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. 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.”

According to the President-elect, the Russian war in Ukraine has weakened both Russia and Iran.

"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," he said.

Read next: Syrian opp. coalition works on power transfer to transitional gov.

Ukraine cease-fire

Trump urged for an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine, advocating for an end to the ongoing conflict.

He said “(Ukrainian President Volodymyr) Zelensky and Ukraine would like to make a deal and stop the madness. They have ridiculously lost 400,000 soldiers, and many more civilians,” adding, "There should be an immediate cease-fire 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 called on Putin to act "decisively" to end the war in Ukraine.

"I know Vladimir well. This is his time to act,” he said, stressing "China can help. The World is waiting!"

On Saturday, Ukraine’s President, Volodymyr Zelensky, emphasized during a meeting with Trump that any settlement with Russia, following its operation in Ukraine, must be "just." This came as concerns in Kiev grow about the stance of the incoming administration.

Zelensky’s meeting with Trump, which took place just before the three men traveled to Notre Dame for the reopening ceremony of the Paris cathedral, marked his first in-person encounter with the businessman-turned-politician since Trump’s election victory.