RUSSIAN President Vladimir Putin voiced strong support for Palestinian statehood and expressed deep concern over the humanitarian crisis in Palestine during a meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Tuesday. Reuters reports that Putin also emphasised Russia’s commitment to the Palestinian cause despite the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
“We are watching with great pain and anxiety the humanitarian catastrophe that has unfolded in Palestine,” Putin said, according to a Kremlin transcript. He noted the death toll of almost 40,000 Palestinians in the Gaza war since October 7, 2023.
According to Reuters, Putin reaffirmed Russia’s backing for the Palestinian aspiration to create a fully-fledged state. “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,” he said.
According to Reuters, the Russian leader highlighted Moscow’s attention to Middle East events despite the demands of its own war in Ukraine. He did not directly mention Ukraine’s recent incursion into western Russia, which has caught Russia’s military off guard and forced more than 130,000 people to flee their homes.
Abbas, 88, expressed gratitude for Russia’s support, calling it “one of the dearest friends” of the Palestinian people. According to Reuters, he urged action from the U.N. Security Council to “stop the actions that Israel is taking,” referencing a recent advisory ruling by the top U.N. court that deemed Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories and maintenance of Israeli settlements illegal.
While Putin reiterated Russia’s commitment to Palestinian statehood and humanitarian relief, he did not present any new initiatives for resolving the conflict. Russia has sought to position itself as a peacemaker in the Middle East, criticizing longstanding U.S. policies in the region.
The meeting comes as Russia has been cultivating closer ties with Iran since the start of the Ukraine war. Recently, Putin urged Tehran to exercise restraint and avoid Israeli civilian casualties in its response to the assassination of a Hamas leader in Tehran last month, according to Iranian sources who spoke to Reuters.
Russia’s stance on the Palestinian issue has at times strained its relationship with Israel, particularly due to Moscow’s willingness to host Hamas delegations. Throughout the conflict, Putin has consistently emphasized the plight of Palestinians, once remarking that the suffering of Palestinian children “makes tears come to your eyes.”
