In a dramatic twist to international diplomacy, Russian President Vladimir Putin has received an invitation to join former U.S. President Donald Trump’s newly proposed “board of peace,” which aims to address not only ongoing global conflicts but also the urgent need for governance and reconstruction in Gaza. As tensions simmer in Ukraine and the Middle East, this development underscores the complexity of geopolitical alliances and the necessity for collaborative efforts in conflict resolution. With longstanding ties between Russia and Middle Eastern nations, Putin’s potential involvement could reshape approaches to regional stability.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has been invited to join former U.S. President Donald Trump’s “board of peace,” an initiative purportedly aimed at resolving global conflicts and overseeing governance in Gaza. The invitation, announced on Monday, comes amid Russia’s ongoing military involvement in Ukraine, which has yet to yield a peace agreement. Trump has been advocating for a swift resolution to the war in Ukraine, a commitment he made during his presidential campaign a year ago. As peace negotiations stall, the urgency for new diplomatic strategies has become increasingly apparent.
The White House has sought participation from various international leaders to form the “board of peace,” which Trump intends to chair. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that Putin has received this invitation but did not clarify whether the Russian leader is inclined to accept. Additionally, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, a long-time ally of Putin, has also been reportedly invited to join the board.
Historically, Russia has aimed to maintain balanced relations with major Middle Eastern players, including Israel and the Palestinian factions. However, since the escalation of Israel’s conflict with Gaza and the new phase of the Ukraine war initiated in February 2022, Putin’s administration has increasingly aligned itself with nations opposed to Israel, such as Iran. This pivot reflects Moscow’s effort to solidify its relations with Gulf Arab states amid growing Western isolation.
Putin has previously commended Trump’s mediation efforts, recognizing the positive impact of yield negotiations to address multifaceted crises persisting for generations. He acknowledged that achieving Trump’s vision for the Middle East would represent a significant milestone in diplomatic history.
The war in Ukraine and escalating violence in Gaza have strained Russia’s relations with Israel, which hosts a substantial Russian-speaking community. The Kremlin has vocally criticized Israel’s actions in Gaza and called for restraint. Recently, during a meeting with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, Putin described the humanitarian situation in Gaza as a catastrophic crisis, reiterating Russia’s commitment to supporting the Palestinian people through ongoing assistance initiatives.
The proposed “board of peace” aims to implement Trump’s ambitious 20-point plan for ending hostilities in Gaza and is designed to include representatives from the U.S., Europe, and Arab nations. Nevertheless, the initiative has faced criticism from scholars who argue that placing Trump and his pro-Israel allies in leading roles, while relegating Palestinians to a minor operational capacity, risks undermining Palestinian political agency and perpetuating a neocolonial governance framework.
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