ANKARA (Reuters) – President Tayyip Erdogan told U.S. President Donald Trump that Turkey will never declare a ceasefire in northeastern Syria and that it will not negotiate with Kurdish forces it is fighting in its offensive into the region. Turkey pressed ahead with its offensive against the Syrian Kurdish YPG militia in northern Syria on Tuesday despite U.S. sanctions and calls for it to stop, while Syria’s Russia-backed army moved on the key city of Manbij that was abandoned by U.S. forces. 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. On Monday, Trump announced sanctions on Turkey to punish it for the offensive. On Tuesday, a senior U.S. official said Washington would threaten more sanctions to persuade Turkey to reach a ceasefire and halt its offensive. However, speaking to reporters on a flight back from Baku, Erdogan said the offensive would continue until it reaches its aims, and added that he 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…. Read full this story
- Erdogan says Greece 'sowing chaos' in Mediterranean
- US at Pains to Calm Tensions Between Its Allies in Northern Syria
- NATO urges Syria, Russia to halt airstrikes as migrants move
- Turkey vows more support to secure gains in Libya conflict
- Militants Shell Localities in Syria's Aleppo Province, Russian Military Says
- America’s Role in Syria Just Got a Lot More Complicated
- Turkey Bombs Iraq, Syria, Targeting Kurdish Group It Says Trains Antifa
- Trump’s Syria Fiasco Is Part of Putin’s To-Do List
- U.S. Involved in Syria Clash, Russia and Turkey Also Targeted as War Rages On
- Erdogan hosts Libya PM as Turkey looks to lock in gains
Erdogan says Turkey will never declare ceasefire in northern Syria have 307 words, post on feeds.reuters.com at October 15, 2019. This is cached page on NGHONG. If you want remove this page, please contact us.