Trump Says Turkey Calls Cease-Fire ‘Permanent’
Oct 23, 2019, 11:40 AM | Updated: Jun 8, 2022, 5:00 pm

U.S. President Donald Trump is flanked by Vice President Mike Pence (L), and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo (R), while making a statement in the Diplomatic Room at the White House, on October 23, 2019 in Washington, DC. President Trump announced that the U.S. would be lifting all sanctions imposed on Turkey in response to their invasion of northern Syria. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)
(Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON (AP) – President Donald Trump says Turkey has informed the U.S. it will make “permanent” a five-day cease-fire in Syria. In response, he says he’s directing the lifting of economic sanctions on Turkey.
Speaking of the U.S.-brokered effort, Trump said Wednesday, “this was an outcome created by us.” The cease-fire required Kurdish forces formerly allied with the U.S. against the Islamic State group to move out of a roughly 20-mile (32-kilometer) zone on the Turkish border.
Trump says, “We’ve saved the lives of many, many Kurds.”
Trump says nearly all U.S. troops will be leaving Syria but some will remain to safeguard oil fields in Syria. Russian forces have since begun joint patrols with Kurdish forces along the Turkish-Syrian border.
Trump says if Turkey breaches the cease-fire the sanctions could be reimposed.
LIVE: President Donald Trump speaks about Syria, Turkey
LIVE: President Donald Trump is delivering remarks about the situation in Syria and Turkey.
Posted by KSL 5 TV on Wednesday, October 23, 2019
LIVE in PROGRESS: President Donald Trump speaks on Syria, Turkey
LIVE in PROGRESS: President Donald Trump speaks on Syria, Turkey
Posted by KSL 5 TV on Wednesday, October 23, 2019