OREANDA-NEWS. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that he will talk about Syria only with USA President Donald Trump. “I’m not going to talk to them (the members of American delegation. – Ed.). They will be talking to their counterparts. When Trump comes here, I’ll be talking,” he said.

US Vice President Mike Pence and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who will arrive in Ankara with a working visit, will meet with Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay and Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu.

Earlier, Pence wrote on his Twitter page that the American side at the meeting in Turkey will insist on a ceasefire in northern Syria and a negotiated settlement of the situation. The White House announced plans for bilateral negotiations between the US Vice President and the Turkish President on October 17.

On October 9, Turkey announced a military operation in Syria named Peace Spring. Its goal is to occupy a 30-kilometer zone of Syrian territory from the Euphrates river to the border with Iraq and to free it from Kurdish formations, which Ankara calls terrorist. The Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces say they will not give up, but in reality there is little that can oppose Turkish aviation and ground forces.

Although the operation was announced 5 days before, its beginning caused serious concern and condemnation in the world because of the risk of destabilization of the entire region.

The United States imposed sanctions against two government ministries and several politicians. Washington administration also increased duties on Turkish steel.

In response, Turkey stated that it does not intend to terminate the operation, despite increased pressure from its Western allies.