Russian President Vladimir Putin met Mahmoud Abbas during his official visit to Russia.

 

In addition to discussing current issues of further development of bilateral cooperation, Putin and Abbas exchanged views on the situation in the Middle East in light of the current aggravation of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and the unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe in the Gaza Strip.

 

“Our position here is unchanged. It was formulated long ago and is not of any opportunistic nature. We believe that in order to ensure a long-term, reliable, stable peace in the region, it is necessary to implement all decisions of the United Nations and, above all, create a full-fledged Palestinian state,” Putin said. 

 

Abbas is in Moscow on a long-expected visit until Wednesday and is to travel to Turkey for talks with President Tayyip Erdogan afterwards, Reuters reports.

 

Russia, which has forged close ties both with Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and Arab leaders including Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, has condemned the recent killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, calling on all parties to refrain from further destabilization of the Middle East.

 

It has also repeatedly scolded the West for ignoring the need for an independent Palestinian state within 1967 borders.