DAMASCUS, Jan. 15 (Xinhua) -- Syria's Foreign Ministry on Tuesday lashed out at Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan over his remarks about the creating a safe zone in northern Syria, reported the state-run news agency SANA.

The ministry said in a statement that Erdogan's remarks and actions indicate that his country "only deals with the language of occupation and aggression," adding that Erdogan's actions "run against the simplest principles and charter of the UN."

Earlier in the day, Erdogan said his country would set up a safe zone in northern Syria as part of a deal with U.S. President Donald Trump.

Erdogan described a phone call he had with Trump on Monday as "quite positive," where both sides agreed on a plan to impose a 32-km security zone along the Syrian border.

The Syrian Foreign Ministry stressed that any step to undermine the Syrian sovereignty will be regarded as outright aggression against and direct occupation of Syrian territory.

It stressed that the Syrian government is determined to protect the territorial integrity of Syria and will defend the Syrian territory against any Turkish occupation.