Pentagon Spokesperson Colonel Robert Manning has said that Turkey’s offensive into Afrin has led to a pause of some operations against ISIS as SDF fighters have gone to Afrin.

EU representative Mogherini has called on Turkey, Russia and Iran, which are the guarantors of Astana process, to take necessary steps to ensure ceasefire in Syria nationwide.

Spokesperson for the US-led coalition to fight ISIS, Colonel Ryan Dillon has said that, "the latest activities in Afrin have been a distraction". "This is concerning for the coalition," said Dillon and added, "We don't want independent operations."

Reuters has reported that President of France Macron has told his Turkish counterpart Erdoğan that ceasefire in Syria includes Afrin as well.

The United Nations Security Council has voted for a month-long "humanitarian pause" in Syria. Authorities from Turkey say ceasefire decision will not affect Afrin operation.

YPG has announced they will keep with the UN Security Council’s “humanitarian pause” resolution throughout Syria. Speaking on the Afrin offensive, they have said that “the right to self-defense will be exercised”.

In his statement, the Syrian Representative to UN has stated that 13 anti-terror resolutions were passed and they all await “to be seriously put into effect”.

Erdoğan responding to Pentagon Spokesperson Galloway’s statement that civilians have been wounded during Afrin operation, has said called Galloway “you immoral, unscrupulous person”.

The lower house of the Dutch Parliament (Tweede Kamer) has approved a motion on Thursday, officially recognizing the Armenian Genocide, while the Dutch government has said they would not follow the parliament’s judgment.

Reuters citing an eyewitness in the region has reported that Syrian government forces have entered the al-Halak, Bani Zaid and Bustan al-Basha neighborhoods in Aleppo.

EU Enlargement Commissioner Hahn has told Die Welt that the focus needs to be not on Turkey’s accession negotiations but on strategic partnership, remarking that the EU cannot “ignore significant deficits in the rule of law in Turkey”.

İbrahim Kalın has stated that as one of three guarantor states, Turkey’s messages are conveyed to Damascus indirectly but not direct dialogue exists between the two regimes and added: “contact can be made to solve certain problems”.

Russian FM Lavrov has said that they understand both Turkey’s concerns about Syria and Kurds’ wishes.

President Erdoğan tackled the Afrin issue with Russia President Putin and Iran President Rouhani yesterday (February 19). The telephone calls were said to have emphasized the Astana process.

Concerning the reports indicating that Syrian army would enter Afrin, Minister of Foreign Affairs Çavuşoğlu has said, “If the [Syrian] regime enters [Afrin] to eliminate the YPG, there is no problem. However, if it is heading there to protect the YPG, then no one can stop us”.

Reuters citing a Kurdish official has reported that Syrian government coming to terms with the YPG will be deployed in critical positions near Afrin border.

Merkel has pointed out the urgency of the journalist’s situation while Yıldırım has asserted that all lawsuits including that of Deniz Yücel are receiving due process within the principles of a state of law.

President of Russia Putin and President Erdoğan have held a meeting on phone about Syria. It was decided in the meeting that cooperation between Iran, Russia and Turkey should continue.

France’s FM Jean-Yves Le Drian has told BFM TV Channel that international law “is being violated by Turkey, by the Damascus regime, by Iran and those who are attacking eastern Ghouta and Idlib.”

Mr. Niinistö was able to meet both Mr. Putin and Mr. Trump during his first tenure and of course all the important EU-leaders as well. He is seen as somebody, who can keep Finland safe during unsecure times next to Russia.