German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan and French President Emmanuel Macron after a news conference after a Syria summit, in Istanbul, Turkey October 27, 2018.

Germany and France have banned arms exports to Turkey over its assault against Kurdish YPG militia in Syria.

Turkey launched the military operation on Wednesday after U.S. President Donald Trump withdrew some U.S. troops who had been backing Kurdish forces in the fight against Islamic State.

The United States and European Union have already warned Turkey of possible sanctions over the offensive.

"Against the backdrop of the Turkish military offensive... , the Federal Government will not issue any new permits for all military equipment that could be used by Turkey in Syria", Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said, according to the spokeswoman.

The comment confirmed a report in weekly Bild Am Sonntag.



France also said Saturday it has suspended all weapon sales to Turkey and warned Ankara that its offensive in northern Syria threatened European security.

"In expectation of the end of this offensive, France has decided to suspend all plans to export to Turkey weapons that could be used in this offensive. This decision is with immediate effect," a joint statement from the foreign and defence ministries said.

It said that European Union foreign ministers would coordinate their position on Monday at a meeting in Luxembourg.

Turkey's foreign minister Mevlüt Cavusoglu said that his country was undeterred by bans or embargoes.