Turkey’s President Erdogan said his country will never declare a ceasefire in northern Syria, Middle East Monitor reports quoting Reuters. The Turkish leader added he will not negotiate with Kurdish militia it is fighting in its offensive into the region.
After a week-long offensive in northeastern Syria, the Turkish government is under fire. The US and EU call for Ankara to stop it, waiving sanctions and freezing the arms embargo. Despite all these warnings, President Erdogan said ‘We will never declare a ceasefire’ and continue the offensive against the Syrian Kurdish YPG militia in northern Syri.
On Tuesday, Syria’s Russia-backed army moved on the key city of Manbij that was abandoned by US forces, while the YPG, the key component of the forces who fought Islamic State, is seen by Ankara as a terrorist group linked to Kurdish separatist insurgents in Turkey.
This week has started with President Trump’s announcement sanctions on Turkey to punish it for the offensive. According to the White House, the iam is reaching a ceasefire and halt Turkish offensive. In his turn, Erdogan answered Ankara was not worried about sanctions.
“They say ‘declare a ceasefire’. We will never declare a ceasefire,” Erdogan said. “They are pressuring us to stop the operation. They are announcing sanctions. Our goal is clear. We are not worried about any sanctions,” he said.
Donald Trump to send the US delegation to Ankara for discussing the demands
The White House confirmed on Tuesday that Vice President Mike Pence will meet with Erdogan in Ankara on Thursday for discussing the demands.
Separately, the Turkish presidency said late on Tuesday that Erdogan told Russian President in a phone call that Turkey’s operation would contribute to counter-terrorism efforts, Syria’s territorial integrity, and a political solution process.
Trump’s decision to withdraw US troops from northern Syria after a phone call with Erdogan not only cleared the way for the Turkish incursion, but it also gives a free hand to Washington’s adversaries in the world’s deadliest ongoing war, namely Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his Russian and Iranian allies.
