Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday defiantly rejected President Trump’s demand he halt the invasion of Syria and declare a ceasefire.

“They say ‘declare a ceasefire,’” Erdogan told reporters. “We could never declare a ceasefire.”

Erdogan said he cannot stop the incursion until he clears the border region of northern Syria of Kurdish fighters.

Turkey launched its offensive last week after Trump cleared US soldiers from the area to make way for Turkish forces.

But after being scolded by lawmakers on both sides of the aisle for abandoning the US-allied Kurds, Trump has been critical of Turkey’s attacks.

On Monday, Trump phoned Erdogan with the ceasefire demand.

With Post wires