Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov commented on a statement by U.S. Special Representative for Syria Engagement James Jeffrey, in which he had voiced doubts that the Kurds would withdraw from the designated areas.
The United States, "which used to be the closest ally of the Kurds," "abandoned" and "betrayed" them, the spokesman said. Now, the U.S. "opted to abandon the Kurds on the border, almost forcing them to fight against the Turks," he pointed out.
According to Peskov, it is absolutely clear that if Kurdish forces fail to pull out and withdraw their weapons, "then Syrian border guards and Russian military police officers will have to pull back." "In fact, the remaining Kurdish units will be crushed by the Turkish military machine," TASS cited as saying.
Jeffrey said on Tuesday that a new Russian-Turkish deal on Syria was "full of holes."
On October 23, Russia and Turkey reached an agreement to give 150 hours to the Kurdish-led People's Protection Units (YPG) to withdraw from a 30-km zone along the Syria-Turkey border.
