Support The Moscow Times!
Contribute today

Kremlin Says U.S. Betrayed Kurds in Syria, Tells Kurds to Withdraw or Be Mauled

By Reuters
Emrah Gurel / AP / TASS

The Kremlin said on Wednesday that the United States had betrayed and abandoned the Syrian Kurds and advised the Kurds to withdraw from the Syrian border as per a deal between Moscow and Ankara or be mauled by the Turkish army.

The comments by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov to Russian news agencies followed a deal agreed on Tuesday between Russia and Turkey that will see Syrian and Russian forces deploy to northeast Syria to remove Kurdish YPG fighters and their weapons from the border with Turkey.

Peskov, who was reported to be reacting to comments by U.S. President Donald Trump's special envoy for Syria James Jeffrey, complained that it appeared that the United States was encouraging the Kurds to stay close to the Syrian border and fight the Turkish army.

"The United States has been the Kurds' closest ally in recent years. (But) in the end, it abandoned the Kurds and, in essence, betrayed them," Peskov was cited as saying.

"Now they (the Americans) prefer to leave the Kurds at the border (with Turkey) and almost force them to fight the Turks."

If the Kurds did not withdraw as per the deal between Moscow and Ankara, Peskov said that Syrian borders guards and Russian military police would have to withdraw, leaving the Kurds to be dealt with by the Turkish army.

Read more about: Syria , U.S. , Kremlin , Turkey

… we have a small favor to ask.

As you may have heard, The Moscow Times, an independent news source for over 30 years, has been unjustly branded as a "foreign agent" by the Russian government. This blatant attempt to silence our voice is a direct assault on the integrity of journalism and the values we hold dear.

We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. Our commitment to providing accurate and unbiased reporting on Russia remains unshaken. But we need your help to continue our critical mission.

Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just 2. It's quick to set up, and you can be confident that you're making a significant impact every month by supporting open, independent journalism. Thank you.

Continue

Read more

Podcast

Russia and Turkey Scramble to Avoid Conflict. And What do U.S. Democratic Primaries Mean for Moscow?

This week's most important news stories from Russia brought to you by Moscow Times journalists and expert commentators.
DECONFLICTION HICCUPS

U.S. ‘Intercepted’ Russian General in Syria – State Dept

Russia and the U.S. have experienced “hiccups” in their military deconfliction efforts in Syria, including around 14 months ago.
security pact

Turkey-Syria Cooperation Must Be Based on Cross-Border Adana Accord, Russia Says

Moscow would be prepared to help with that cooperation, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.
NO THOUGHTS

'We Don't Want to Entertain Possibility of Clash With Turkey in Syria,' Kremlin Says

Moscow had already warned all sides in the Syrian conflict to avoid any action that could escalate the situation.