A surprise diplomatic twist emerged Monday as the Kremlin claimed Russian President Vladimir Putin has been invited to take part in President Donald Trumpās newly proposed āBoard of Peace,ā 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 āreceived through diplomatic channelsā an invitation to join the panel, adding that Moscow was awaiting clarification from Washington.Ā
āWe are hoping to get more details from the U.S. side,ā Peskov said.
The proposed board is a central component of Trumpās 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.
Putinās reported inclusion has drawn immediate attention, given his global standing and controversial record.Ā
The Russian leader, 73, has been accused of war crimes stemming from Russiaās 2022 invasion of Ukraine ā 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, Hamasā 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 Gazaās reconstruction. Trump has described the panel as āthe Greatest and Most Prestigious Board ever assembled.ā
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 Netanyahuās office said the announcement āwas not coordinated with Israel and runs contrary to its policy,ā 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.Ā
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 ā a demand Hamas has so far rejected.
Former Palestinian Authority official Dr. Ali Shaāath has been selected to lead the proposed government if Hamas steps aside.
The White House praised Shaāath as āa 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.ā
Despite Hamasā refusal to disarm, a White House official told The Post, āthe goal here is to create the alternative to Hamas that wants that peace and to figure out how to empower them.ā
