Russia Wants to Clarify the Concept of the US-Proposed Peace Council

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. (Twitter/@mfa_russia)

JAKARTA - Russia wants to clarify the concept of the "Peace Council" proposed by the United States, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said at a press conference summarizing Russia's diplomatic activities in 2025.

According to him, Moscow received a "strange document called the 'charter' of the 'Peace Council'," which was originally intended to address problems in the Palestinian Gaza Strip.

"This council is intended not only to deal with the Gaza Strip, which I think is hardly mentioned, but also to broadly help resolve conflicts around the world," the diplomat said, explaining the contents of the "charter", reported TASS (20/1).

"We certainly want to clarify the conceptual and practical vision of the US on this initiative," he continued.

"Currently we are trying to clarify this issue, and will continue to communicate (about it)," said Foreign Minister Lavrov.

The senior Russian diplomat stressed that "when discussing the Middle East problem, especially as it relates to the Gaza Strip," one cannot approach the issue other than "from the position that has been repeatedly confirmed by the entire international community," namely the need for a free Palestine.

"When the United States initiative was considered by the UN in the fall, we doubted the need for any additional format beyond that listed in the US decision," Lavrov explained, adding "essentially it boils down to the implementation of these decisions, and the establishment of the Palestinian state."

However, he explained that Washington "does not want to refer to the UN decision," so Russia and China are persuaded by Arab countries, as well as Palestine itself, "not to obstruct" a resolution on the "Peace Council."

According to the diplomat, Moscow and Beijing decided to "give this initiative a chance."

"This is the exact context in which we are currently reviewing the invitation we have received," Lavrov concluded.

As previously reported, the Kremlin on Monday said the Russian president had accepted the offer. Neither Moscow nor President Trump has said whether Putin has accepted it.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow "is currently studying all the details of this offer".

"We hope to be able to contact the US to clarify all aspects," he said.

Later, President Trump confirmed that he had invited President Putin to join the council, which is part of Trump's 20-point plan to end the Israel-Hamas war and is expected to temporarily oversee the management of Gaza and manage its reconstruction.

Asked on Monday whether he had invited President Putin to join the Peace Council, President Trump told reporters in Florida: "Yes, they are world leaders. The answer is yes, I have invited him," he said, quoted by the BBC.

Washington is known to have invited various world leaders to sit on the council. The Peace Council will consist of world leaders, with President Trump as its head, according to the White House. However, the structure of the council is still unclear and members are still invited.