Live Updates: Fragile Balance Established in Northern Syria After End of Turkish Offensive

The United States has never threatened Turkey with use of military force to stop the Turkish offensive in northern Syria, Special Envoy for Syria James Jeffrey said earlier this day.

"Preservation of contacts with US on Syria is important in terms of achieving long-term settlement there", the Ministry added.

"Since the deadlines have not been set, then the lack of deadlines means that they [the agreements] have no time limitations at this point", Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Vershinin said on Wednesday.

“We have great respect for the Kurds, with whom we have deep historical contacts. And we know about their contribution to combat against Daesh*”, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Vershinin said.

*Daesh (also known as ISIS/ISIL/IS) is a terrorist group banned in Russia

It also added that the memorandum signed on 22 October renews the presence of Syrian border guards at many places along the Syrian-Turkish border.

The agreements between Russia and Turkey are "based on the results of closed contacts between Moscow, Damascus, and the Kurds" on the situation in Syria.

The Russian Foreign Ministry explained that the initiative to create an internationally controlled zone inside northern Syria was suggested by Germany before the meeting between Putin and Erdogan in Sochi, where the "fateful decisions were made".

Big success on the Turkey/Syria Border. Safe Zone created! Ceasefire has held and combat missions have ended. Kurds are safe and have worked very nicely with us. Captured ISIS prisoners secured. I will be making a statement at 11:00 A.M. from the White House. Thank you!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 23, 2019

"Concerning YPG terrorists, Putin said that Russia and [the Syrian] regime will not allow them [to remain in the territory]. ... Russia surely will not allow for it, we do not doubt this", president Recep Tayyip Erdogan said in an interview with the Turkish news outlet Anadolu.

Erdogan added that he was not fully sure about Syria's guarantees though.

"If [the Kurds] do not leave [the territory], we will do everything necessary”, the Turkish president said.

According to local sources, the Russian column arrived in the border city of Kobani around midday, met by cheering crowds.

The meeting will be held at the NATO headquarters in Brussels and chaired by Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg. According to him, the ministers will also discuss NATO air defence batteries in Turkey, noting, however, that it is up to the allies to decide if that would be appropriate.

According to local sources, the Russian column arrived in the border city of Kobani around midday, met by cheering crowds.