Russia has responded to Donald Trump’s Peace Council invitation, with President Vladimir Putin offering USD 1 billion from frozen US assets while seeking time to consult strategic partners.
File image: Russian President Vladimir Putin (ANI)
Moscow has reacted to Washington’s latest diplomatic outreach.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has acknowledged an invitation from US President Donald Trump to join a proposed international “Peace Council”, an initiative aimed at addressing global conflicts, including the Israeli-Palestinian issue.
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Speaking at a meeting of Russia’s Security Council on Wednesday, Putin said Moscow was open to contributing financially to the initiative. He added that Russia could immediately offer USD 1 billion, drawn from Russian assets currently frozen in the United States.
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According to RT, Putin said Russia could provide the funds “right now, even before we decide whether we’ll take part… in the work of the Board of Peace,” pointing to what he described as Moscow’s “special relations with the people of Palestine.”
He said the money could be taken “from the Russian assets frozen by the previous [US] administration,” and added that Moscow “has always supported and continues to support any efforts aimed at strengthening international stability.”
The proposed council is expected to focus on peace efforts in the Middle East, with particular attention on Gaza’s reconstruction and humanitarian needs.
Putin also signalled caution.
While thanking Trump for the invitation, he said Russia would need more time to study the proposal and consult its strategic partners before taking a final decision, RT reported.
The comments come days after Trump confirmed that Putin was among several world leaders invited to join what is being referred to as the Gaza Board of Peace.
Speaking to reporters during a media interaction on Monday, Trump said the board would work toward peace and stability in Gaza, and that Russia was one of the countries being considered for participation.
The initiative forms part of Phase 2 of Trump’s 20-Point Peace Plan to end the conflict in the Middle East.
The plan was first floated last September. Since then, its scope appears to have widened, moving beyond Gaza to cover global conflicts.
The board is likely to bring together leaders from nearly 60 countries. Its mandate would include overseeing post-conflict reconstruction, particularly in the Gaza Strip, and promoting long-term regional stability.
A White House statement said the executive board would handle key portfolios such as large-scale funding, investment attraction, regional relations, reconstruction, governance capacity-building, and capital mobilisation.
Under the proposal, countries committing USD 1 billion would receive permanent seats on the board. Others could still participate, but only for a three-year term.
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