Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has pledged to press on with the military offensive in northern Syria until the creation of a planned 'safe zone' is finished. Turkish troops and allied Syrian rebels launched the operation last week to push back Kurdish militia from the border area, following the withdrawal of US forces.
Erdogan stated that he will meet US Vice-President Mike Pence on Thursday, after initially appearing to rule out such a meeting. He told Sky News on Wednesday that an American delegation would only meet Turkish counterparts, but later clarified his intention to meet Pence and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
The operation aims to create a 32km-deep buffer zone along the Syrian border, where up to two million Syrian refugees could be resettled. Turkey views the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) as a terrorist group linked to the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which has fought for Kurdish autonomy in Turkey since 1984.
Erdogan called on 'terror organisations' to lay down their arms to end the operation, and rejected calls for mediation. He maintained that Turkey will not declare a ceasefire despite US sanctions and pressure. The UN reports that at least 160,000 people have fled the area, and dozens of civilians have been killed.
Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed the situation with Erdogan in a phone call, and Erdogan accepted an invitation to visit Russia later this month. Russia has vowed not to allow clashes between Turkish and Syrian forces.
