Trump announces Turkey sanctions ‘will be lifted’

WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday the United States is lifting sanctions on Turkey, hailing the success of a ceasefire along its border with  Syria .
The president, who has been under fire for abruptly withdrawing US troops from northern  Syria , paving the way for Turkey to launch a deadly offensive against the Kurds, added that a “small number” of US troops would remain in the conflict-hit country.
“Earlier this morning, the government of Turkey informed my administration that they would be stopping combat and their offensive in  Syria  and making the ceasefire permanent,” he said in a televised address from the White House.
“I have, therefore, instructed the secretary of the Treasury to lift all sanctions imposed October 14 in response to Turkey’s original offensive moves against the Kurds in  Syria ‘s northeast border region,” he added.
His announcement came after a deal struck Tuesday in Sochi, under which Russia and  Syria  will “facilitate the removal” from the border region of Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) fighters, US allies against the Islamic State group.
It will also see Turkey preserve a “safe zone” inside  Syria  about 75 miles long and 20 miles deep. Russia and Turkey will eventually launch joint patrols along the zone.