Russia’s Sergey Lavrov: No conflict can be resolved in Syria, region without Kurds

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan 24) – Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Thursday said the conflict in Syria and the Middle East, in general, cannot be resolved without the help of the Kurdish people.

Lavrov made the remarks in Moscow during a press conference following his meeting with United Nations Syria envoy Staffan de Mistura about the latest developments in Syria.

The Russian Foreign Minister was asked about Moscow’s relations with the Kurds in Syria, mainly the People’s Protection Units (YPG) who Russia gave Turkey the green light in early January to launch an offensive against in Afrin.

“Our relations with the Kurds in Syria are just like those with Kurds living in Iraq and Turkey,” he said. “Our relations have not changed.”

Lavrov added that “no conflict can be resolved without the Kurds,” highlighting the efforts of the Kurdish forces in the battle against the Islamic State (IS) in the Middle East.

The Russian Minister also mentioned the United States’ influence in the region and said Moscow was “concerned about the future of Kurds in Syria.”

He pointed to Turkey’s offensive in Syrian Kurdistan’s Afrin which he said was a result of Washington “using” the Kurds as it “grossly violated international laws.”

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump on Thursday said Washington could withdraw its forces from Syria “very, very soon.”

President Trump’s comments come at a time when Turkey continues to threaten an advance east of Afrin into Manbij where US forces, who liberated the area from IS with the help of the YPG, are currently based.