Putin pledges $1 billion from frozen assets for Gaza peace board
Note: AI technology was used to generate this article’s audio.
- Russian President Vladimir Putin says Moscow is ready to contribute $1 billion from frozen US assets to a proposed Gaza “Board of Peace.”
- Ukraine refuses to join the board if Russia participates, while Arab countries largely welcome the initiative.
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that Russia is prepared to contribute $1 billion from assets frozen in the United States to the proposed “Board of Peace” for the Gaza Strip, as part of an initiative spearheaded by US President Donald Trump.
Putin said part of the frozen funds could also be used to rebuild "conflict-affected" areas in the Middle East, stressing that Russia views the board primarily as a vehicle to support a broader regional settlement.
Read more: Trump says Putin accepted to join his “Board of Peace”
“By the way, the remaining funds from the frozen assets could also be used to reconstruct territories damaged by fighting, after a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine,” he added.
Putin accepts Trump’s invitation
Trump said Wednesday that Putin had accepted an invitation to join the peace board, which is expected to be formally announced during Trump’s participation at the Davos forum.
Putin told a government meeting that he had instructed Russia’s foreign ministry to study the invitation and consult with strategic partners. “I tasked the foreign ministry with reviewing the documents we received and consulting with our strategic partners,” he said.
Read more: Arab, Muslim states join Trump-backed Board of Peace on Gaza
He emphasized that the board’s efforts should have a positive impact on a long-term Israeli-Palestinian settlement, citing relevant UN resolutions and stressing that the “inalienable needs and wishes of the Palestinians” must be respected. Putin added that Moscow will support all efforts to promote international stability.
Ukraine declines participation
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Tuesday that while Ukraine had received an invitation to join the board, it would not participate if Russia is involved.
“We received the invitation, and our diplomats are working on it,” Zelensky said. “But it is very difficult for me to imagine being in the same board with Russia in any form.”
Global reactions
The UN Security Council approved a resolution in November allowing the establishment of a peace board and enabling cooperating states to form an international stabilization force for Gaza.
Eight Arab and Islamic foreign ministers issued a joint statement Wednesday welcoming Trump’s invitation for their leaders to join the board. Meanwhile, US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff said about 20 world leaders had accepted the invitation, while several European countries declined.
Under Trump’s plan, the board would initially oversee temporary administration of Gaza, with a later expansion to manage conflicts elsewhere globally.
