Moscow: Russian President Vladimir Putin, during a meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Tuesday, expressed deep concern over the suffering of the Palestinian people and reaffirmed Moscow’s support for their aspirations to establish a sovereign state.
Despite the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, Putin emphasized that Russia remains attentive to developments in the Middle East. While he did not directly mention Ukraine’s recent incursion into western Russia, which has led to significant displacement, Putin stressed that the situation in Palestine remains a priority for Moscow.
“Everyone is well aware that Russia today, unfortunately, must defend its interests and defend its people with arms in hand. But what is happening in the Middle East, what is happening in Palestine, of course, does not go unnoticed on our part,” Putin stated, as per a Kremlin transcript.
He further expressed his distress over the humanitarian crisis in Palestine, noting, “And of course, we are watching with great pain and anxiety the humanitarian catastrophe that has unfolded in Palestine.”
Putin highlighted the devastating toll of the Gaza war, which has claimed nearly 40,000 Palestinian lives since Hamas’s attack on Israel on October 7. This attack resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people and the capture of over 250 individuals by Hamas in Gaza.
Russia has maintained strong ties with both Israel and the Palestinians, but Moscow’s recent actions have strained its relationship with Israel. Hosting Hamas delegations and underscoring the suffering of Palestinian children has drawn criticism from Israel. Putin’s remarks have been particularly poignant, with his earlier comments about the plight of Palestinian children bringing tears to many.
Veteran leader Abbas, 88, expressed his gratitude to Russia, calling it “one of the dearest friends” of the Palestinian people. “We believe in you, we trust you, and we feel your support,” Abbas told Putin.
Abbas also called for action from the United Nations Security Council, where Russia holds a veto, urging the body to “stop the actions that Israel is taking.” His remarks followed a recent advisory ruling from the top U.N. court, which declared Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories and the maintenance of Israeli settlements illegal.
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Russia has positioned itself as a mediator in the Middle East, often attributing the region’s challenges to longstanding U.S. policy failures. However, Putin did not propose any new initiatives during the meeting, instead reaffirming Russia’s support for Palestinian statehood and its commitment to providing humanitarian aid.
In addition to its Middle East diplomacy, Russia has strengthened ties with Iran since the onset of the Ukraine war. According to Iranian sources, Putin recently urged Tehran to exercise restraint and avoid Israeli civilian casualties in response to the assassination of a Hamas leader in Tehran last month.
