Washington (dpa) - US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that he would lift sanctions on Turkey following a promise by Ankara to make a ceasefire in a "safe zone" in north-eastern Syria permanent.

The US imposed sanctions against three Turkish ministers and two ministries last week in response to Turkey's incursion.

In a speech from the White House, Trump said that the United States had done the opposing sides fighting in the area "a great service."

"We've done a great job for all of them, and now we're getting out," he said.

"Let someone else fight over this long blood-stained sand," he said.