A surprise diplomatic twist emerged Monday as the Kremlin claimed Russian President Vladimir Putin has been invited to take part in President Donald Trump’s newly proposed “Board of Peace,” a governing body intended to oversee Gaza after the war.
According to the New York Post, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that Putin had “received through diplomatic channels” an invitation to join the panel, adding that Moscow was awaiting clarification from Washington.
“We are hoping to get more details from the U.S. side,” Peskov said.
The proposed board is a central component of Trump’s post-cease-fire plan for Gaza, which envisions the replacement of Hamas with a technocratic governing authority backed by international oversight.
Trump has been named the inaugural chairman of the Board of Peace and holds sweeping authority over its structure, including veto power and final say on participating nations.
Putin’s reported inclusion has drawn immediate attention, given his global standing and controversial record.
The Russian leader, 73, has been accused of war crimes stemming from Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine — a conflict that has become the deadliest in Europe since World War II.
Estimates suggest more than one million Russian and Ukrainian troops have been killed or wounded. Russia is also a long-standing ally of Iran, Hamas’ chief sponsor.
The White House confirmed over the weekend that while three-year terms on the board are free, countries seeking permanent seats will be required to contribute $1 billion toward Gaza’s reconstruction. Trump has described the panel as “the Greatest and Most Prestigious Board ever assembled.”
According to U.S. officials, expected participants include Secretary of State Marco Rubio, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. Argentina, Egypt, and Turkey have also received invitations, their governments confirmed.
Israel, however, has pushed back. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said the announcement “was not coordinated with Israel and runs contrary to its policy,” underscoring lingering tensions surrounding the plan.
The invitation to Putin comes as the administration advances to phase two of its three-stage Gaza Peace Plan.
Phase one, implemented last October, resulted in Hamas releasing all living hostages and Israel scaling back its military footprint. Phase two would require Hamas to disarm and surrender control of Gaza to international peacekeepers and a new civilian government — a demand Hamas has so far rejected.
Former Palestinian Authority official Dr. Ali Sha’ath has been selected to lead the proposed government if Hamas steps aside.
The White House praised Sha’ath as “a widely respected technocratic leader who will oversee the restoration of core public services, the rebuilding of civil institutions, and the stabilization of daily life in Gaza.”
Despite Hamas’ refusal to disarm, a White House official told The Post, “the goal here is to create the alternative to Hamas that wants that peace and to figure out how to empower them.”
