Erdogan Says ‘Historic’ Deal With Russia to End Kurdish Threat
Vladimir Putin, right, and Recep Tayyip Erdogan shake hands during their meeting in Sochi, Russia on Oct. 22.
Photographer: Sergei Chirikov/Pool/AP
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President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Turkey reached a “historic” agreement with Russia that would remove Syrian Kurdish militants from a strip of border territory extending along the length of northeast Syria.
Speaking alongside Russian President Vladimir Putin after a 6-hour meeting in Sochi, Erdogan said Russian forces would help evict the so-called YPG fighters from areas outside the 120-km corridor where Turkish forces are operating. Turkey considers the militia a threat due to its links to separatist Kurds on its own territory.