Russian President Vladimir Putin met Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Moscow on Saturday to discuss the escalating humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip and the broader situation in the Palestinian territories. The meeting took place during Abbas's visit to Russia for the 80th anniversary commemorations of the Soviet Union's World War II victory. In remarks made during the portion of the meeting open to the media, Putin underscored the strength of Russian-Palestinian relations and expressed concern over the developments in Gaza. "A full-scale humanitarian disaster is taking place in the Gaza Strip," Putin said, citing over 51,000 deaths amid Israel's ongoing military operations. He blamed the worsening crisis on restrictions preventing the delivery of humanitarian aid, food, and electricity into the enclave. Putin also noted increasing tensions in the West Bank and reiterated Russia's longstanding support for a two-state solution. "We have always believed that lasting peace in the region can only be achieved on the basis of widely accepted international law that envisions two states for two peoples," he said. Russia, he added, continues to provide assistance to Palestinians and supports efforts to resume peace talks in the region. Abbas thanked Russia for its support and reaffirmed the Palestinian commitment to international law. "The Palestinian people do not want more than what international law prescribes," he said. He stressed the need for a ceasefire and urgent humanitarian access in Gaza, saying, "More than 51,000 people have died in Gaza. The number of wounded exceeds the number of dead. The situation is very bad." Abbas also criticized recent proposals by the U.S. administration, including suggestions of an externally managed Gaza or a "Gaza Riviera" development project. "We informed the Americans that neither they nor any other foreigners have the right to govern the Gaza Strip. We want to return to Gaza, and we want Gaza to be governed by Palestine," he said. In a separate development, Putin also met Khalifa Haftar, commander of the armed forces in eastern Libya. The Kremlin confirmed the meeting but did not provide further details. Haftar had earlier met Russian Security Council Secretary Sergey Shoigu and attended the Victory Day military parade in Red Square on May 9. — Agencies
