Donald Trump’s administration announced a ceasefire in northeastern Syria after paving the way for Turkey’s offence to occur in the first place, with the president celebrating the move as a “great day for civilisation”.

The announcement was followed up swiftly by comments from the Turkish government casting doubt on the news, and criticism from those who have suggested that the Trump administration is giving the Turkish government a win by forcing Kurds to leave the region or face an uncertain future.

The breaking news arrives as Mr Trump's ambassador to the EU, Gordon Sondland, a key figure of interest in the impeachment inquiry, is testifying on Capitol Hill behind closed doors, turning on the president in his opening statement by saying he was “disappointed” by the decision to involve Mr Trump’s personal attorney Rudy Giuliani in US dealings with Ukraine.

Meanwhile, the president swiftly faced ridicule following the release of a bizarre letter he had written to Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan imploring him not to attack the Kurdish fighters of the Syrian Democratic Forces, which appears to have been thrown away and ignored by the recipient.

The mockery follows his dismissal of the crisis in Syria as “not our problem” on Wednesday and his falling out with senior Democrats when they urged him to halt the withdrawal of US troops from the region.

Minneapolis protesters clash with police outside Trump rally Show all 12 1 /12 Minneapolis protesters clash with police outside Trump rally Minneapolis protesters clash with police outside Trump rally IMAGES INCLUDE EXPLICIT LANGUAGE: Counter protesters confront horse-mounted law enforcement after a rally by U.S. President Donald Trump in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Reuters Minneapolis protesters clash with police outside Trump rally Anti-Trump protesters hold signs outside the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota, ahead of a "Keep America Great" rally AFP/Getty Minneapolis protesters clash with police outside Trump rally A counter protester holds a sign before a rally by U.S. President Donald Trump in Minneapolis Reuters Minneapolis protesters clash with police outside Trump rally The state is home to some of the President’s most prominent critics – including senator Amy Klobuchar and congresswoman Ilhan Omar AFP/Getty Minneapolis protesters clash with police outside Trump rally Both the president’s backers and his detractors were, for the most part, kept separate EPA Minneapolis protesters clash with police outside Trump rally On the fringes of the action the president’s supporters clashed with protestors AP Minneapolis protesters clash with police outside Trump rally A protester with a whistle attempts to interrupt U.S. President Donald Trump while he spoke Getty Minneapolis protesters clash with police outside Trump rally Minneapolis Police create a blockade to hold back protestors Getty Minneapolis protesters clash with police outside Trump rally On the arrival of the police protestors could be seen jeering and hurling projectiles at officers AP Minneapolis protesters clash with police outside Trump rally Officers deployed pepper spray during the protests AP Minneapolis protesters clash with police outside Trump rally Baby Trump balloons are carried by a counter protester before the rally Reuters Minneapolis protesters clash with police outside Trump rally Anti-Trump protesters hold signs outside the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota AFP/Getty

Meanwhile, the United States mourns congressman Elijah Cummings, a leading figure in the Trump impeachment probe, who died overnight after suffering through medical concerns.