DAVOS, Wednesday, January 21, 2026 (WNP): Russian President Vladimir Putin has responded to an invitation from United States President Donald Trump to join a newly proposed international “Peace Council,” signaling cautious openness while emphasizing that any such initiative must lead to tangible progress toward resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
In remarks released by the Kremlin, President Putin confirmed that Russia had received a personal message from President Trump inviting Moscow to participate in the proposed body. He expressed appreciation for the outreach and reiterated Russia’s longstanding position in favor of international efforts aimed at strengthening global stability.
“I want to thank the US President for the offer,” Putin said, noting that Russia also acknowledges the role of the current US administration in seeking pathways to end the conflict in Ukraine.
However, he clarified that Russia has not yet made a final decision on participation. The Russian Foreign Ministry has been instructed to examine the documents related to the Peace Council and to hold consultations with Moscow’s strategic partners before an official response is issued.
According to President Putin, the proposal primarily focuses on the Middle East, particularly on addressing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the broader challenges facing the Palestinian people. He stressed that any diplomatic mechanism must go beyond symbolism and contribute to a durable settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in line with relevant United Nations resolutions.
“Any process that is launched must genuinely help move toward a long-term settlement and must take into account the fundamental needs and wishes of the Palestinian people,” he said.
Putin highlighted the urgent need for the reconstruction of Gaza, including the restoration of essential social infrastructure such as healthcare systems, water supply networks and reliable food delivery mechanisms.
In a notable move, the Russian president suggested that even before a formal decision on joining the Peace Council is made, Russia could contribute financially to humanitarian efforts. He proposed a contribution of one billion US dollars to the Council, to be financed through Russian state assets frozen under the previous US administration led by President Joe Biden.
Citing Russia’s “special ties” with the Palestinian people, Putin said such a contribution could demonstrate Moscow’s commitment to alleviating humanitarian suffering and supporting meaningful progress toward peace.
The proposal adds a new dimension to ongoing international discussions on conflict resolution in the Middle East and underscores the evolving diplomatic dynamics between Washington and Moscow under the new US administration.
