Trump calls for more ties with Russia after ceasefire brokered in southern Syria

US PRESIDENT Donald Trump has called for expanded co-operation with Russia as a ceasefire brokered by the two powers and Jordan for southern Syria came into effect.

The ceasefire covering three war-torn provinces is the first tangible outcome following months of strategy and diplomacy between the new Trump administration and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Mr Trump tweeted that the ceasefire, which came into effect at noon on Sunday, “will save lives”.

“Now it is time to move forward in working constructively with Russia!” he posted on Twitter shortly after the agreement came into effect.

The agreement followed weeks of secretive talks between the US, Russia and Jordan in Amman to address the build-up of Iranianbacked forces, in support of the Syrian government, near the Jordanian and Israeli borders.

It comes as it was revealed Donald Trump’s eldest son, sonin-law and campaign chairman met a Russian lawyer shortly after the tycoon won the Republican presidential nomination.

It appears to be the earliest known private meeting between key aides to the president and a Russian.

Representatives of Donald Trump Jr and Jared Kushner confirmed the June 2016 meeting after the reported on Saturday on the gathering of the men and Russian lawyer Natalia Veselnitskaya at Trump Tower.

Then-campaign chairman Paul Manafort also attended, according to a statement from Donald Trump Jr.

He described it as a “short introductory meeting” during which the three discussed a disbanded programme that used to allow US citizens to adopt Russian children.

Moscow ended the adoptions in response to American sanctions brought after the 2009 death of an imprisoned lawyer who spoke about a corruption scandal.