Syria War: What Democrats And Republicans Are Saying About The Crisis With The Kurds As Turkey, Russia Reach Agreement

Turkey and Russia reached agreement Tuesday on control over a large area of Syria on Turkey’s southern border as U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell pledged to introduce a resolution urging President Trump to end the withdrawal of U.S. troops from the area and lawmakers pushed for strict sanctions on Ankara.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met with Russian President Vladimir Putin for six hours in the Black Sea resort area of Sochi, Russia, to discuss how to handle Kurdish fighters who were instrumental in ousting the Islamic State group from northern Syria.

The Kurds had been fighting alongside U.S. troops, but Trump announced earlier this month he was pulling U.S. troops from the area, opening the way for Turkey to launch a bloody invasion. Defense Secretary Mark Esper has said the U.S. troops would be relocated to Iraq to fight ISIS.

Tuesday’s agreement cements Russia’s role as the main power broker in the area, filling the vacuum left by the U.S. withdrawal.

"According to this agreement, Turkey and Russia will not allow any separatist agenda on Syrian territory," Erdogan told reporters with Putin at his side.

Erdogan said Kurdish fighters have 150 hours starting at noon Wednesday to fall back 20 miles from the Turkish border. He said Turkish and Russian troops would conduct joint patrols of the area to make sure the area remains clear.

Erdogan said earlier Turkey would resume its offensive if Kurdish forces do not fully withdraw. Even before his meeting with Putin got underway, Kurdish forces complained ongoing attacks by Turkey and its supporters were preventing their withdrawal. Erdogan said only 700 to 800 of the 1,900 to 2,100 Kurdish fighters in the area had withdrawn by Tuesday.

Putin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters at a press briefing it was not up to Russia to give Turkish forces permission to remain in Syrian territory.

“Only the legitimate government of the Syrian Arab Republic can do that,” he said. Russia backs the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad; the U.S. had been working with rebel forces attempting to oust him.

In Washington, McConnell said he would introduce a resolution to replace the House measure condemning the U.S. Syrian withdrawal.

“I am introducing a stronger resolution that acknowledges hard truths and focuses on our strategic interests in the Middle East,” McConnell said. “It recognizes the grave consequences of U.S. withdrawal … . We specifically urge the president to end the drawdown.”

Rep. Will Hurd, R-Texas, who is not seeking re-election, Sunday characterized the ceasefire Vice President Mike Pence worked out with Erdogan last week as “terms of surrender.”

"And unfortunately, our enemies and our adversaries — like Iran, Russia, Turkey — they're playing chess and unfortunately, this administration is playing checkers," Hurd said.

Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., said he feels “horror and shame” over Trump’s handling of the situation while Republican Sens. Lindsey Graham and Chris Van Hollen on Monday announced legislation to impose “crippling” sanctions against Turkey.

“I blame Turkey more than anyone. Turkey’s invasion has put at risk the defeat of the caliphate,” Graham said Monday in reference to ISIS.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the Turkish offensive has led to 590 casualties, including 120 civilians, and displaced 300,000 people. Turkey has said it killed 795 terrorists but no civilians.

Last week, Democrats walked out of a meeting with Trump, saying the president was insulting House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Trump has described his handling of the Syria situation as “strategically brilliant.”