Trump announces ‘great news’ as US and Turkey ‘agree deal for five-day ceasefire by Erdogan’s troops in Syria to allow Kurds to withdraw from safe zone’
- US Vice President Mike Pence and Turkish President Erdogan met together today
- Ceasefire will reportedly last for 120 hours to allow a withdrawal from safe zone
- Following news, President Donald Trump tweeted ‘millions of lives will be saved’
The US and Turkey have reached a deal to suspend Ankara’s operations in northern Syria for 120 hours, according to government sources.
A Turkish official is reported to have told the Middle Eastern Eye that a ceasefire will be used to allow Kurdish forces to withdraw from a designated safe zone.
It follows a long meeting between US Vice President Mike Pence and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan today.
Following the news, President Donald Trump tweeted: ‘Great news out of Turkey. News Conference shortly with @VP and @SecPompeo . Thank you to @RTErdogan . Millions of lives will be saved!’
Vice President Mike Pence meets with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan at the Presidential Palace in Ankara today
Following the news, President Donald Trump tweeted: ‘Great news out of Turkey. News Conference shortly with @VP and @SecPompeo . Thank you to @RTErdogan . Millions of lives will be saved!’
The US Vice President touched down in Ankara alongside Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and national security adviser Robert O’Brien as they tried to stop the Syrian civil war descending into a bloody new phase.
The outlook for any deal had appeared bleak after Erdogan briefly toyed with the idea of refusing to meet with Pence at all.
He later relented, but had repeatedly insisted he will not stop his assault on the Kurds – America’s former allies in Syria – until he has driven them away from his border.
Erdogan has also previously insisted he is unafraid of US sanctions, despite Trump pledging to ‘destroy’ the Turkish economy if he does not agree.
More to follow.