Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Saturday he would discuss the deployment of Syrian government forces in a planned “safe zone” in northern Syria during talks with Russia’s President Vladimir Putin next week, but warned Ankara would “implement its own plans” if a solution was not reached.
Turkey agreed with the United States on Thursday to pause its military offensive in northeastern Syria for five days while Kurdish fighters withdrew from a “safe zone.”
Erdogan will visit Sochi for emergency talks with Putin on what steps to take next.
RELATED:Turkish troops ready to continue offensive if truce not implemented: Minister
Speaking at an opening ceremony in the central Turkish province of Kayseri, Erdogan also said that Turkey would “crush the heads” of Kurdish militants in northern Syria if they did not withdraw from the area during the 120-hour period.
On Friday, President Erdogan said that Turkey will set up a dozen observation posts across northeast Syria, insisting that a planned “safe zone” will extend much further than US officials said was covered under a fragile ceasefire deal.
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