MOSCOW (The Thursday Times) — Russian President Vladimir Putin has reiterated his strong support for the two-state solution as the foundation for resolving the Israel-Palestine conflict. Speaking during a press briefing following the BRICS Business Forum in Moscow, Putin emphasised that the establishment of a sovereign State of Palestine alongside Israel is essential to achieving lasting peace in the region.
“Our position is well known,” Putin said, referring to Russia’s long-standing endorsement of the United Nations Security Council resolution on the two-state solution. “The baseline of our position was that we need to put into practice the UN Security Council resolution on building two states — Israel and the State of Palestine,” he explained, adding that this remains the fundamental solution to the ongoing conflict.
Deeper historical, spiritual dimensions
Putin stressed that the Palestinian issue goes beyond economic concerns, noting that historical and spiritual dimensions must be addressed in any resolution. He pointed out that the conflict is deeply rooted in the aspirations and histories of the people living in the region. “In my opinion, it is not just about material concerns. There are aspects related to the spiritual domain, to history, and to the aspirations of peoples living in certain territories,” Putin remarked, underscoring the complexity of the situation.
The Russian president also expressed his belief that the right of Palestinians to return to their homeland is a key component of the peace process. “The main method to address the Palestinian issue is to create a full-fledged State of Palestine,” he stated, affirming Russia’s unchanged stance on the matter, a position that has persisted since Soviet times.
Criticism of Middle East Quartet’s dissolution
Putin criticised the disbanding of the Middle East Quartet, a group that included the UN, the EU, Russia, and the US, which aimed to mediate peace between Israelis and Palestinians. He argued that the Quartet was working effectively before it was dissolved, blaming the US for monopolising the peace process, which ultimately failed to bring about a resolution.
“Unfortunately, it was the wrong thing to do to disband the Quartet. I mean, they (the US) are not to blame for everything, but the Quartet was working. They monopolised all the work, but eventually it failed,” Putin said.
BRICS summit to address Israel-Palestine conflict
Next week’s BRICS summit in Kazan will provide a platform for discussing the Israel-Palestine conflict. Putin revealed that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas had been invited to the summit, further signalling Russia’s ongoing engagement in Middle Eastern diplomacy. The meeting, which will see participation from both established and new BRICS members, will also focus on wider regional issues, with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan representing the Kingdom.