Donald Trump yesterday claimed the credit for ending fighting in north-east Syria, saying that he would remove the sanctions he had imposed on Turkey to punish it for launching an offensive against US-backed Kurdish militants.

The US president’s decision comes a day after Turkey and Russia reached a deal to push the Kurdish forces from a so-called safe zone along the border and conduct joint patrols in the area, from which US troops have withdrawn.

Mr Trump, who was widely condemned for appearing to give Turkey the go-ahead to launch the offensive this month, said the US had done a “great job”. He added: “This was an outcome created by us, the United States, and nobody else, no other nation. Very simple. And we’re willing to take the blame and we’re willing to take the credit.”