The United States is supplying the People’s Protection Units (YPG) in Syria with millions of dollars worth of crude oil, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said on Sunday in an interview with pro-government Akşam daily.

The Turkish president’s claim arrives following a meeting between the presidents of Iran, Turkey and Russia to discuss the fate of Syria’s last rebel stronghold in Idlib, where a military offensive, as threatened by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, could lead to millions of people fleeing the region. Turkey, which is home to 3.5 million Syrian refugees, has repeatedly expressed its concerns over a new wave of migrants knocking on its door.

‘’They are currently suppyling terrorist organizations, such as the YPG, in [Syria’s] Deir ez-Zor with oil,’’ Erdoğan said, referring to the United States. ‘’Terrorist organizations receive 300 million dollars income from crude oil.’’

Erdogan also told Turkish journalists traveling with him on his private jet that when he told Russian President ''Putin about the amount of oil the U.S. has been supplying to YPG, Putin was surprised.''

Erdoğan highlighted that Turkey does not see eye to eye with the United States regarding the People’s Protection Units (YPG), which Ankara and its allies designate as an offshoot of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and therefore a terrorist organization. The PKK has been at war in Turkey for autonomy for over three decades.

Maintaining ceasefire in Syria’s rebel-held northwestern province of Idlib will require an agreement with Russia and Iran, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan stressed in the interview.

Erdoğan, while noting that he is in favour of a political solution in Syria, stressed that Turkey supports ridding the region of terrorist organizations.

‘’Moderate opposition coming from as places such Aleppo and and eastern Ghouta are currently in Idlib. I expressed that we will never accept attacks on civilians, which use elements such as the al Nusra Front as an excuse. This will lead to a humanitarian crisis and a new wave of migration. Turkey should not be forced to pay the price of such a move,’’ the Turkish president said.

Erdoğan added noted that a 12 clause joint statement following the summit points to ceasefire in the region, believed to be the last stronghold against the Assad regime.

On Saturday, a day after the summit in Tehran, the Assad regime and Russian warplanes targeted Idlib province with a series of airstrikes.