After the US Department of Treasury has imposed sanctions on Turkey's Ministries of National Defense and Energy and Natural Resources, as well as its Ministers of Interior, National Defense and Energy and Natural Resources, US Vice President Mike Pence has spoken to journalists at the White House and emphasized a "ceasefire" in northern Syria.

 

Indicating that he will be leading the ceasefire negotiations, Pence has said that he will travel to the region "as quickly as possible".

 

Pence has also shared details about the phone call between US President Donald Trump and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Pence has indicated that "Trump spoke to Erdoğan and asked for an immediate ceasefire".

 

'ENACT AN IMMEDIATE CEASEFIRE'

 

Stating that Trump took up a harsh stance in his phone call with Erdoğan, Pence has said, "United States of America is simply not going to tolerate Turkey's invasion of Syria any longer. We call on Turkey to embrace a ceasefire, come to the negotiating table and end the violence."

 

Pence has also told reporters that he will be travelling urgently to Turkey at President Trump's request. "He directed me to lead a delegation. I will be leaving as quickly as possible to travel into the region to pursue a ceasefire and negotiated settlement", Pence has indicated further.

 

TRUMP SPOKE TO SDF COMMANDER

 

Announcing that Trump is ready to mediate between Turkey and the YPG, Pence has also indicated that President Trump also spoke with YPG commander Mazloum Kobani on the phone. 

 

A senior administration official has told reporters that Trump is confident that a ceasefire can be reached following his phone calls.

 

"I think the president would not be willing to send a high-level delegation on short notice like this unless he was pretty confident that there was at least a chance of getting to a ceasefire", the official has added.