Trump calls on Russia to stop Idlib operation after call with Erdoğan

WASHINGTON – U.S. President Donald Trump called on the Russia to stop supporting the Syrian Arab Army offensive in Idlib following a call with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Erdoğan has already called on Russian President Vladimir Putin to put pressure on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to stop the attack in Idlib and to withdraw from Turkish observation points.

In a statement released following the call, the White House said that, “President Trump expressed his concern over the increased violence in Idlib and thanked President Erdoğan for Turkey’s efforts to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe there.” The statement also said that President Trump, “expressed the U.S. desire to end Russia’s support for the Syrian forces and to work for the political settlement of the Syrian conflict.”

Turkey confirmed in a statement yesterday evening that President Erdoğan discussed in a telephone conversation with his President Trump the developments of the situation in Syria and Libya.

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu confirmed that he had informed his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, of the need to immediately stop the attacks in Idlib and the need to reach a permanent ceasefire.

The Kremlin stated that the goal of the military operation in the de-escalation zone in Idlib is to neutralize the terrorist elements, and not waging a war against civilians.