Russian President Vladimir Putin hosted Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas at his Novo-Ogaryovo residence on Tuesday.
During the public portion of their meeting, both leaders emphasized the necessity of establishing a Palestinian state in accordance with numerous United Nations Security Council resolutions. They also discussed the urgent need for a ceasefire in Gaza, which has been embroiled in conflict since Hamas's attack on Israel on October 7th.
The feasibility of achieving a ceasefire will become clearer after the next round of indirect talks between Israel and Hamas, scheduled to begin on August 15th. Abbas's visit to Moscow had been anticipated since November but was delayed due to the "difficult situation" in the Middle East, as described by Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov. Despite the ongoing conflict, Abbas decided to accept Putin's invitation.
During the meeting, Putin expressed concern over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, noting that the civilian death toll has exceeded 40,000, primarily women and children, according to UN reports. He highlighted Russia's commitment to providing aid, having sent over 700 tons of humanitarian assistance to Palestine since October 2023.
Putin reiterated Russia's longstanding support for a peaceful resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, stressing that lasting peace can only be achieved by adhering to UN resolutions, which call for the creation of both an Arab and a Jewish state. Abbas thanked Putin for Russia's consistent support, labeling the Russian Federation as one of Palestine's "dearest friends."
Abbas also criticized the international community, particularly the United States, for its failure to facilitate the creation of a Palestinian state and blamed the U.S. for blocking ceasefire resolutions in the UN Security Council until June this year.
Abbas firmly stated that Palestinians will not agree to any initiatives that involve their displacement from the West Bank or Gaza. He drew parallels to past displacements in 1948 and 1967, expressing hope that with Russia's support, Palestinian goals would be realized.
This visit marks Abbas's first trip to Russia since November 2021, when he met with Putin in Sochi. The two leaders have communicated by phone three times since the war in Gaza began, while Hamas representatives have visited Russia four times during the same period, with the most recent visit occurring in late June.
Among Abbas's current priorities is achieving internal Palestinian reconciliation. Despite ongoing efforts, including recent talks in Beijing and Moscow, Fatah, Hamas, and other factions have yet to agree on forming a national unity government, a crucial step toward the recognition of an independent Palestinian state.
Meanwhile, indirect talks between Hamas and Israel, mediated by the U.S., Qatar, and Egypt, are set to resume on August 15th in Doha. Both sides have expressed a clear interest in continuing the negotiations. However, tensions remain high, as evidenced by Israel's August 10th airstrike on a school in Gaza, which claimed over 90 lives, and Hamas's August 12th announcement that it had executed an Israeli hostage, the first such claim since the conflict began in October.
The situation is further complicated by reports from Reuters indicating that Iran may launch an attack on Israel, in coordination with Hezbollah, if the Gaza ceasefire talks fail. Iranian officials have also warned that Israel could face a major assault if Hamas's political leader, Ismail Haniyeh, is killed in Tehran. As the August 15th talks approach, the region remains on edge, with both sides bracing for potential escalation.
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