Putin to talk with Israeli, Palestinian, Egyptian leaders over phone

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) - Russian President Vladimir Putin has planned to hold separate phone conversations with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, the president’s advisor on foreign policy issues Yury Ushakov said on Monday.

"Before his visit to Beijing, the president will talk with (leaders of) the main countries related to this conflict. He will express our assessments, and state our position. And he will listen to the relevant considerations of his colleagues," Ushakov said at a news conference in Moscow.

Ushakov emphasized that Putin is "closely following the unprecedented escalation of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict," and that "all issues related to this conflict are in the focus of the president's attention."

Negotiations on the Middle East settlement should serve the goal of establishing two states, he said.

"We have always believed that the goal of any peace talks should be the implementation of the two-state formula approved by the UN, which supposes the creation of an independent Palestinian State with East Jerusalem as its capital, and this state would exist in peace and security with Israel," he stressed.

Ushakov emphasized the importance of prioritizing a cease-fire and transitioning to peace talks.

"The Middle East conflict is an inveterate, but now it is necessary to take active, drastic steps in order to stop this aggravation, which is unprecedented," he emphasized.

Ushakov pointed out that according to various estimates, more than 4,000 people have already died as a result of the escalation of deadly armed conflict.

The official noted that all relevant topics are being discussed and will be discussed during Putin's telephone conversations. Based on the results of these conversations, the Kremlin will provide details to the media, he said.