Trump claims 'breakthrough' on Syria, lifts sanctions on Turkey: 'We're getting out'

President Donald Trump, facing harsh criticism from both Republicans and Democrats for his abrupt decisions on Syria, claimed a "breakthrough" on Wednesday, saying the ceasefire on Turkey's border with Syria is "permanent."

"Early this morning, the Government of Turkey ... said that they would be stopping combat and their offensive in Syria, making the ceasefire permanent, and it will indeed be permanent," Trump said in a formal statement from the White House.

Trump said sanctions the U.S. imposed on Turkey would be lifted unless something "happens that we're not happy with."

"Today’s announcement validates our course of action," he said, citing the criticism. "Now people are saying, 'Wow, what a great outcome.'"

He claimed that the ceasefire is the sole outcome of U.S. efforts. However, this announcement comes a day after Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced they had reached a separate deal for control of northeastern Syria -- where U.S forces have been withdrawn.

"This was an outcome created by us, the United States, and nobody else," Trump said. "No other nation, very simple. We're willing to take blame and we're also willing to take credit. This is something they've been trying to do. For many, many decades since then."

"Let someone else fight over this long-bloodstained sand," he said. "We've done a great job and now we're getting out."

Just after touting success, though, the president seemed to doubt his own assessment saying permanent is "questionable" in that region.