UPDATE 2 – Putin says Israeli conflict in Gaza is ‘total destruction of civilian population’

ADDS MORE COMMENTS FROM PUTIN, CHANGES HEADLINE, DECK, LEDE, EDITS THROUGHOUT

By Elena Teslova and Alperen Aktas

MOSCOW/ISTANBUL (AA) - Russian President Vladimir Putin highlighted Türkiye's significant efforts to resolve the conflict between Israel and Palestinians, saying “what is happening now in Gaza...does not really look like a war, it is some kind of total destruction of the civilian population."

Putin hosted the heads of leading global news agencies at the Lakhta Center as part of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF).

Anadolu Editor-in-Chief Yusuf Ozhan asked the president: "I want to continue the question I asked you at the economic forum three years ago. Regarding the Israeli attacks in Gaza, we see millions of people taking to the streets worldwide, in the US, Europe, and many other places, urging their governments to find a solution to this problem. Does Russia have a plan for this? Does it plan to take any initiative within the UN Security Council?"

Putin said: “The first thing I want to say is of course we are against terrorism in all its manifestations, against attacks against civilians -- at any place and in any country. But what is happening now in Gaza in response to the well-known terrorist act in Israel does not really look like a war, it is some kind of total destruction of the civilian population.”

He also stressed that the US is to blame for what is happening in Gaza.

"We believe this is a result of US policy. They monopolized the peace process. They pushed aside all previously established mechanisms for collective efforts to solve this extremely difficult problem," he said.

Indicating that the US administration might have approached the Gaza issue with "fewer views, a faster solution," Putin said: "However, in practice, this was not the case. It is not possible to solve the problem with some material offerings. The real issue, political matters, need to be resolved. This involves creating two states, as foreseen in the UN’s decision to establish two states in this territory -- a Palestinian state and a Jewish state."

Put emphasized that it is not possible to resolve the situation without addressing the fundamental issues.

"We have long recognized the Palestinian state since the Soviet Union era. Our approach in this regard has not changed," he said.

Highlighting the steps made by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to resolve the conflict, he said: "We know that President Erdogan has made vigorous efforts to solve this very urgent and longstanding issue. Considering President Erdogan's authority in the region, the world, and the Islamic world, we expect his contribution to be noticeable. For our part, taking into account our longstanding relations with Israel, we are ready to do everything Russia can to resolve this situation."

- Developing energy and trade cooperation with Türkiye

Touching on economic relations between Türkiye and Russia, Putin emphasized that the construction of the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) is progressing according to schedule.

He said that many Turkish experts are working on the project and noted that the Akkuyu NPP opens a new field for the Turkish economy and energy sector.

Sharing his view that President Erdogan made a strategic decision with the Akkuyu NPP, Putin said that "besides many benefits, it also reduces dependency on hydrocarbon resources. We have a reliable working partnership in this field."

Putin said the planned natural gas hub in Türkiye is intended to be an electronic platform for gas trading, primarily for Europe.

"There is something I want to draw your attention to. While Türkiye cooperates with Ukraine in some areas, Ukraine tries to hit the pipelines carrying gas to Türkiye. This is not a joke or an exaggeration in any way. Two drones were jammed by Russian electronic warfare systems and fell near the gas pumping station on the Black Sea coast. Please inform our friend President Erdogan about the facts regarding this matter. There are also continuous attacks with unmanned sea vehicles on ships protecting the energy infrastructure under the Black Sea," he said.

Pointing to the development of trade relations and the trade volume between Türkiye and Russia, Putin said: "It seems to me that recently, the economic bloc of the government in Türkiye has focused on obtaining loans, making investments, and receiving grants from Western financial institutions.”

“This is probably not a bad thing. But if it is related to the restriction of trade and economic relations with Russia, then the Turkish economy will lose more than it gains. I think there is such a threat."

- Supplying weapons to Ukraine by US, Europe

Turning to the issue of supplies of advanced Western weapons capable of reaching Russian territory, Putin said that Kyiv only names the targets.

"But they do not decide whether to strike at this target or not, because, I repeat, a flight mission is being formed, and it is only assigned by those who supply these weapons. If it's ATACMS, then the Pentagon is doing it. If Storm Shadow, then the British are doing it," he stressed.

Speaking about possible retaliation, the Russian president pledged to improve air defenses and revealed that the Russian leadership is thinking about a "symmetrical response."

"If someone considers it possible to supply such weapons to a war zone to strike our territory and create problems for us, then why do we not have the right to supply our weapons of the same class to those regions of the world where attacks will be carried out on sensitive objects of those countries that do the same to Russia?

“The answer may be symmetrical," he warned.