Kremlin rejects Ukraine's accusations of having interest in triggering war in Middle East

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) - Ukraine's accusations are "groundless" that Russia has an interest in triggering a war in the Middle East, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Tuesday.

Peskov said at a news conference in Moscow that Russia continues to talk to Israel and Palestine and will try to help find a solution to the fighting.

"We carry out our contacts and we take part in all. Unfortunately, very few formats that are looking for ground for a settlement and that do not work very effectively, as recent practice has shown," he said.

Asked about reports that said Russians are among the hostages the Hamas group had taken, Peskov said Moscow is clarifying the information.

"The necessary contacts are made in order to find out whether this is true or not and what the future fate of these people is," he noted.

In response to a question about the Kremlin's attitude to the provision of US military assistance to Israel and a possible increase in funding for Ukraine, Peskov said: "The Kremlin has no comments in this regard."

Peskov confirmed that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will visit Russia soon, however, there are no exact dates, noting, that it is a "planned," not "urgent" visit.