Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed his deep concern over the escalating violence and rising number of civilian casualties in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Gaza.
According to Al Jazeera, a recent phone conversation with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Putin emphasized the urgent need for an immediate ceasefire and resumption of peace talks.
During the discussion, Putin criticized the United States' Middle East policy, stating that it has failed to consider the needs and aspirations of the Palestinian people. He argued that the U.S. has sought to monopolize peace efforts, pushing its own ideas without seeking compromises acceptable to both Israel and the Palestinians.
Earlier, Putin had also highlighted the necessity of creating a Palestinian state. He blamed the recent surge in violence on the U.S. policy in the region, calling it a "vivid example of the failure of United States policy in the Middle East."
The Russian leader made these remarks while meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed al-Sudani.
Although Russia has been a part of the "Quartet" of powers involved in mediating Israeli-Palestinian peace talks since 2002, Putin did not mention Russia's role in his statements.
Dmitry Peskov, Putin's spokesperson, later clarified that Russia intends to continue its efforts to resolve the conflict and is in touch with both warring sides.
Peskov also warned that the current violence has the potential to spill over from the Arab-Israeli conflict zone, making it "more than worrying." The Russian Foreign Ministry added that they are in close contact with leading regional players and are ready to help coordinate efforts to stabilize the situation.
By expressing his concerns, Putin adds another layer of complexity to the international response to the Israel-Gaza conflict, particularly in light of Russia's own controversial military actions in regions like Ukraine.
