On the Russian side the meeting was attended by Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office – Presidential Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov, Presidential Aide Yury Ushakov, Minister of Labour and Social Protection, Russian Co-Chair of the Russian-Palestinian Intergovernmental Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation Anton Kotyakov, and Chief of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces – Deputy Chief of the General Staff Igor Kostyukov.
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President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Mr President, dear friend,
I would like to express my gratitude to you once again for finding the opportunity to come to Russia for celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War. You are always a welcome guest here.
We had a highly rewarding meeting last October, on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in Kazan. Earlier, in August, we held full-scale Russia-Palestine talks during your official visit to Moscow.
Russia has always paid special attention to its relations with Palestine. Our nations are linked by a strong bond of friendship, and we follow the tragic development of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, which has claimed more than 51,000 lives, with deep empathy and concern. Tensions are also growing in the West Bank. The Gaza Strip is experiencing a humanitarian crisis in the fullest sense of the word.
As a friend of the Palestinian people, Russia is doing its best to provide regular aid: last year, we sent over 800 tonnes of cargo to those in need, including food, medicine, and essential items.
We have always been convinced that lasting peace in the region can only be achieved on a universally recognised international legal basis that provides for the establishment of two states for two peoples.
Russia consistently advocates for providing humanitarian access and resuming the Middle East peace process. Regretfully, the situation is only getting worse. As I have just said, we are talking about a humanitarian crisis, a disaster, which is, of course, aggravated by decisions to ban even humanitarian aid and supplies of essential items and electricity to the Gaza Strip. This causes particular concern.
Unfortunately, the Gaza Strip ceasefire agreement reached earlier this year was sabotaged, and the escalation continues.
We will certainly exchange views on all these issues and discuss what else Russia could do to de-escalate tensions.
We will also focus on current bilateral issues. In December, Moscow hosted a meeting of the Russian-Palestinian Intergovernmental Commission, which set guidelines for our further joint work.
Thank you.
President of the State of Palestine Mahmoud Abbas (retranslated): Mr President, thank you for your warm welcome over these past few days. We are deeply honoured and truly grateful to be taking part in celebrations marking Victory Day over Nazism and Fascism.
History teaches us that the peoples of the Soviet Union bore an immense sacrifice to secure this victory. It is therefore a privilege for us to stand with you in commemorating this victory, which is not only yours, it belongs to our people as well.
Mr President, we would also like to express our sincere gratitude to the Russian Federation for its consistent stance and principled support regarding the Palestinian cause, politically, economically, and in other key areas. We appreciate Russia’s commitment to justice and its support for the establishment of a Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital, in accordance with international law. The Palestinian people seek nothing beyond what is rightfully ours under international law, and we are committed to seeing that law implemented. We continue to remind others of the importance of upholding international law, which remains a matter of utmost importance to us.
We thank you for your assistance provided recently, including humanitarian aid, the provision of 30,000 tonnes of wheat. We also must underscore the urgent need for continued humanitarian support for the Gaza Strip, where there is a severe shortage of food, electricity, and essential supplies.
Over 51,000 people have lost their lives in Gaza, with many more injured. The humanitarian situation is dire. In these difficult times, the aid you provide is truly a balm for the suffering of our people. They deeply value and appreciate your support.
With regard to political support, we are well aware of your positions and we appreciate and welcome them. We are currently facing extremely difficult circumstances, particularly due to the ongoing military situation and the need to reach a ceasefire. This applies to both the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Our priority is to achieve a ceasefire and to address the pressing humanitarian needs.
There is another critical issue we must address: we firmly oppose any plans aimed at displacing Palestinians from their homeland, as was previously suggested by President Trump. We reject any vision of transforming the Gaza Strip into a so-called “Middle East Riviera.” Such proposals are unacceptable to us, and we have made it clear that we cannot and will not accept them.
We have also heard discussions regarding the establishment of an American administration in Gaza. We strongly oppose this idea as well, and we have conveyed our position directly to the American side. Neither the United States nor any foreign entity has the right to govern Gaza. We seek the return of the Palestinian Authority to the Gaza Strip and its legitimate governance over the territory.
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