Russian President Vladimir Putin called on Tuesday for a political solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and said regional states and members of the BRICS group of countries could be involved in efforts to reach such a settlement. In televised comments to a virtual BRICS summit, Putin once again blamed the Middle East crisis on the failure of U.S. diplomacy in the region.
Quick Read
- Putin Advocates Political Solution to Israeli-Palestinian Conflict:
- Russian President Vladimir Putin emphasized the need for a political resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict during a virtual BRICS summit. He suggested that BRICS countries and regional states could significantly contribute to this process.
- Criticism of U.S. Diplomacy in the Middle East:
- Putin criticized U.S. diplomacy for its failure in the Middle East, implying that it has exacerbated the current crisis. He has consistently voiced concerns about U.S. policies in the region.
- Role of BRICS in Conflict Resolution:
- The BRICS group, comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, plans to expand by including Saudi Arabia, Iran, Ethiopia, Egypt, Argentina, and the United Arab Emirates. Putin sees these countries playing a crucial role in resolving the conflict.
- Putin’s Geopolitical Strategy:
- Analysts believe Putin is leveraging the Gaza crisis to gain geopolitical advantage, aiming to forge alliances with developing countries and establish a new world order countering U.S. dominance.
- Putin’s Stance on Gaza and Israel:
- In the past, Putin has cautioned Israel against a siege on Gaza similar to Nazi Germany’s siege of Leningrad, highlighting potential civilian casualties. He has expressed empathy for Palestinians, especially children suffering in the conflict.
- Comments on U.N. Decisions and Palestinian Statehood:
- Putin criticized the undermining of U.N. resolutions that support the creation of two sovereign states, Israel and Palestine. He noted that generations of Palestinians have grown up experiencing injustice, while Israelis are unable to fully ensure their state’s security.
Reuters has the story:
Putin: BRICS could help reach political settlement in Gaza conflict
Newslooks- MOSCOW, (Reuters)
Russian President Vladimir Putin called on Tuesday for a political solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and said regional states and members of the BRICS group of countries could be involved in efforts to reach such a settlement.
In televised comments to a virtual BRICS summit, Putin once again blamed the Middle East crisis on the failure of U.S. diplomacy in the region.
“We call for the joint efforts of the international community aimed at de-escalating the situation, a ceasefire and finding a political solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. And the BRICS states and countries of the region could play a key role in this work,” Putin said.
He did not elaborate on how such an effort might be organized.
Russian and Western policy experts say Putin is trying to use the Gaza crisis to his geopolitical advantage as part of a strategy to court allies in developing countries and build what he calls a new world order to counter U.S. dominance.
In previous comments he has repeatedly attacked U.S. policy, urged Israel to show restraint and has expressed sympathy for the plight of Palestinians.
Last month he cautioned Israel against laying siege to Gaza in the same way that Nazi Germany besieged Leningrad during World War Two, saying a ground offensive there would lead to an “absolutely unacceptable” number of civilian casualties.
On Tuesday he said it was “terrible” that Palestinian children were dying in large numbers, adding that the sight of operations being performed on children without anaesthetics “evokes special feelings”.
“Due to the sabotage of U.N. decisions, which clearly provide for the creation and peaceful coexistence of two independent and sovereign states – Israel and Palestine – more than one generation of Palestinians has been brought up in an atmosphere of injustice towards their people, and the Israelis cannot fully guarantee the security of their state,” Putin said.
