Putin Invited to Trump’s Peace Committee for Gaza
In a surprising development, the Kremlin announced on Monday that Russian President Vladimir Putin has received an invitation from President Donald Trump to join a “peace committee” aimed at addressing the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip.
According to spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, Putin was contacted through diplomatic means and the Russian government is now awaiting further details from the United States.
The White House has yet to comment on the invitation.
Trump’s post-ceasefire plan proposes that the committee would establish a technocratic government to replace the existing leadership of Hamas.
Putin, now 73, faces accusations of war crimes stemming from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, a conflict that has been described as Europe’s deadliest since World War II, with estimates suggesting over a million casualties.
Additionally, Russia has historically been allied with Iran, which is considered Hamas’s principal supporter.
Trump, named as the inaugural chairman of the peace committee, possesses significant veto authority and determines which nations will take part.
Recently, the White House confirmed that while the committee’s initial three-year term is pro bono, a fundraising effort of $1 billion is expected for long-term redevelopment in Gaza.
The committee, touted by Trump as “the greatest and most prestigious board ever convened,” is anticipated to feature significant figures including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.
Leaders from Argentina, Egypt, and Türkiye have also received invitations from their respective governments.
However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office has criticized the announcement, stating that the U.S. did not coordinate with Israel regarding the committee’s composition, which goes against Israeli interests.
Last week, during a press briefing, Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff outlined the shift to the second phase of a planned three-phase peace initiative for Gaza. The initial phase, implemented last October, involved Hamas releasing hostages while Israel reduced its military presence in the area.
The second phase aims for Hamas to disarm and transition control in Gaza to international peacekeepers along with a new governing body. Nevertheless, Hamas has publicly declared it will not disarm.
Dr. Ali Shaath, a former Palestinian Authority official, has been proposed as the leader of this new government, should Hamas agree to yield control. The White House has praised Shaath as a “widely respected technocratic leader” who will focus on the restoration of public services and gradually establish stable governance.
Even though Hamas has resisted disarming thus far, a White House official expressed the intention to create an alternative that advocates for peace, aiming to empower—rather than replace—Hamas.
