Palestinian President Abbas Arrives In Russia This Afternoon: Scheduled To Meet President Putin, Discuss Gaza Situation

Palestinian Ambassador to Russia Abdel Hafiz Nofal said President Mahmoud Abbas is scheduled to arrive in Russia today, during a three-day visit to Moscow.

President Abbas is scheduled to be in Russia on August 12-14. One of the agenda for this visit is to meet Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin on August 13.

"The president will arrive on August 12 in the afternoon. He is expected to meet with President Putin on Tuesday. Prior to that, Mahmoud Abbas will lay a wreath at the Tomb of Unknown Soldiers in Moscow," Ambassador Nofal told TASS, as quoted August 12.

"The president will be in Russia until August 14. Of course, there will be a meeting with Arab ambassadors," the diplomat continued.

Ambassador Nofal further explained that the topic to be discussed was the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

"The situation in Gaza will be the main agenda. They will discuss Russia's role and what it can do. We are in a very difficult situation, and Russia is a country close to us. We need to consult," explained Nofal.

The escalation in the Middle East has increased following the death of Hamas Political Bureau Head Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, Iran and the assassination of senior military commander Hezbollah Fuad Shukr in Beirut, Lebanon.

Iran, Hamas and Hezbollah consider Israel responsible, insisting these attacks will be rewarded with retaliation.

Separately, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov did not rule out the killing of Haniyeh could affect talks with Israel over exchanges of prisoners in Gaza.