In July 1974, Greece and the Cypriot National Guard launched a coup d'état that installed the enosist Nikos Sampson as president. Makarios fled the country with British help. Faced with Greek control of the island, Turkey demanded that Greece dismiss Sampson, withdraw its armed forces, and respect Cyprus' independence; Greece refused. From the United States, envoy Joseph Sisco could not persuade Greece to accept Ecevit's Cyprus settlement which included Turkish-Cypriot control of a coastal region in the north and negotiations for a federal solution; Kissinger seemed willing to support enosis. The Soviet Union did not support enosis as it would strengthen NATO and weaken the left in Cyprus.