President-elect Donald Trump blamed former President Barack Obama for the collapse of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s regime while focusing his attention on his own foreign policy strategy.

The Syrian Civil War began in the latter part of Obama’s first term, and he was heavily criticized for a lack of action in opposing Assad. Trump, responding to Assad being deposed, turned his attention to Russia and Ukraine.

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“Russia, because they are so tied up in Ukraine, and with the loss there of over 600,000 soldiers, seems incapable of stopping this literal march through Syria, a country they have protected for years,” Trump said in a post on X this weekend. “This is where former President Obama refused to honor his commitment of protecting the RED LINE IN THE SAND, and all hell broke out, with Russia stepping in…never much of a benefit in Syria for Russia, other than to make Obama look really stupid.”

Rebels rapidly advanced across the country on Sunday, quickly forcing Assad to retreat and allowing them to claim the country. Russia has consistently supported the Assad regime but could not stop the rebel advance.

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Trump said the collapse was because Russia “was not interested” in protecting Assad any longer. “There was no reason for Russia to be there in the first place,” he said. “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.”

However, hours later, Russian state media reported that Assad was in Moscow after being granted asylum.

Trump also called for a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine in their ongoing war, something he has said frequently since it began in February 2022. “There should be an immediate ceasefire and negotiations should begin,” he said. “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 has consistently said the war in Eastern Europe would never have started if he were president, and he has vowed to bring it to an end.

The president-elect has also promised not to get involved in Syria; he withdrew American troops from the region during his first term as president.

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Trump has generally favored not getting involved in foreign wars on the campaign trail.

While President Joe Biden has been very favorable to Ukrainian military aid, Trump and Republicans have not. On Sunday, Trump said it was “possible” that Ukraine would receive less military aid. Many congressional Republicans have been against the waves of aid the country has received, instead favoring spending such money in the United States.