Russia Advocates Creation of Sovereign Palestinian State

On Wednesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin voiced support for the creation of a sovereign Palestinian state as a permanent solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. 

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"Without addressing the fundamental political issues, the most critical of which is the establishment of a sovereign Palestinian state, it is impossible to resolve the problem as a whole," he stated during the forum of the Russian Energy Week 2023.

Putin recalled that the United States had attempted to substitute fundamental political problem-solving in the Middle East with "some economic handouts."

While addressing economic issues is essential for lower-income families, it will not be sufficient to end a decades-long conflict, he stressed.

The Russian president urged Washington not to exacerbate the situation by deploying the aircraft carrier Gerald Ford, the guided-missile cruiser USS Normandy, and the guided-missile destroyers Thomas Hudner, USS Ramage, USS Carney, and USS Roosevelt to the region.

"I don't understand why the U.S. is sending aircraft carriers to the Mediterranean Sea... I don't see the reason. Are they planning to bomb Lebanon or something? What are they going to do? Or have they simply decided to intimidate someone?," Putin wondered.

Furthermore, the Russian leader accused the United States of neglecting the established mechanisms for resolving the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, including the creation of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.

He also mentioned that the issue of settlers in occupied Palestinian territory, along with other factors, had finally ignited this new conflict.

"Of course, it's a tragedy, and there are grievances on both sides, but what we must now strive for is to minimize losses among the elderly, women, and children," the Russian president said.

"I hope that in the near future, the situation will calm down. That's what we have to do. Because if the conflict spreads to other regions, it will also have tragic consequences," Putin warned, emphasizing that Russia has always advocated for the implementation of UN resolutions and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.

Among these severe consequences, Putin highlighted potential short-term disruptions in global energy markets, which would directly affect Europe.