Russian President Reaffirms Support for Palestinian Statehood at BRICS Summit

Kazan: Russian President Vladimir Putin has reiterated his support for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state in accordance with United Nations resolutions, emphasizing this step as crucial for achieving lasting peace in the Middle East. Putin made these remarks during a meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in Kazan. According to Kuwait News Agency, President Putin called for self-restraint from all parties involved in the Middle East conflict and expressed concern about the high number of civilian casualties in the Gaza Strip. He highlighted Russia's humanitarian efforts, noting that his country has dispatched 800,000 shipments of aid, primarily consisting of food and medicine, to the Palestinian territories. In response, Palestinian President Abbas reiterated his call for an urgent ceasefire and the full withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip. He welcomed Putin's proposal for dialogue as a means to address the ongoing conflict and e xpressed alarm over repeated attacks on religious sites in Jerusalem and the West Bank. Abbas reaffirmed the commitment of Palestinians in both the West Bank and Gaza Strip to remain on their lands. President Abbas also expressed hope that Palestine's application to join the BRICS organization, either as a full member or a partner, would receive approval in the near future.