The Kremlin has confirmed that Russian President Vladimir Putin has received an invitation to join a new international 'board of peace' established by former US President Donald Trump, intended to oversee a ceasefire and lasting peace in Gaza.
Kremlin Seeks Clarification on Trump's Offer
Speaking to journalists on Monday, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that Moscow is currently working to 'clarify all the nuances' of the offer with Washington before formulating a formal response. The invitation was reportedly extended last week as part of Trump's proposals for ending the conflict in Gaza.
This development emerges as Putin continues his full-scale invasion of Ukraine, a war that has resulted in hundreds of thousands of casualties and numerous documented atrocities against civilians. The Russian leader has repeatedly dismissed proposals for a ceasefire along the current frontlines.
Composition and Controversy of the Proposed Board
The vaguely defined 'board of peace' was endorsed in a UN Security Council resolution in November. Its stated aim is to supervise the transition to a durable peace in Gaza and oversee a committee of Palestinian experts tasked with the territory's day-to-day administration.
Initial appointments to the board, announced on Friday, include:
- Donald Trump as chair.
- Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair.
- Current US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio.
- Trump's troubleshooting envoy and property developer, Steve Witkoff.
- The former president's son-in-law, Jared Kushner.
- World Bank President Ajay Banga.
Reports over the weekend revealed that invitations were also sent to the leaders of Argentina, Paraguay, Turkey, Egypt, and likely others. According to US media, each participating nation would be required to contribute $1 billion for membership.
Global Reactions and Wider Geopolitical Tensions
The potential inclusion of the Russian president in a global peace body adds substantial weight to long-standing accusations that Trump harbours a favourable stance towards Putin, particularly concerning the war in Ukraine.
Simultaneously, Trump has been escalating pressure on European nations regarding his ambitions for Greenland. In a letter to Norway's Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, Trump wrote, 'considering your country decided not to give me the Nobel Peace Prize for having stopped 8 Wars PLUS, I no longer feel an obligation to think purely of Peace.'
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer criticised associated US tariffs as 'completely wrong', reiterating that any decision on Greenland rests solely with its people and Denmark. However, he downplayed the prospect of retaliatory tariffs or military action.
Commenting on the Greenland situation, Peskov suggested a US takeover would 'certainly go down in history', regardless of its legality.
Separately, the Kremlin confirmed that Putin's special envoy, Kirill Dmitriev, will attend the World Economic Forum in Davos this week and meet with the US delegation, though it is unclear if the Gaza board will be discussed.
