ISTANBUL

The Kremlin said on Tuesday that it is “premature” to talk about Russia’s participation in US President Donald Trump’s “Board of Peace” on Gaza.

In remarks to journalists at a press briefing, spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia does not yet know “all the details” of the US-led initiative, and whether it concerns only Gaza or a broader context.

“There are still many questions, and we hope to receive answers during our contacts with the Americans,” Peskov said.

Responding to a question on whether Russia will be represented in the board, Peskov said: “It's premature to say so."

Peskov’s recent remarks come a day after he announced President Vladimir Putin has been invited to join the international body, saying Moscow is currently examining “all the details of this proposal, including hoping for contacts with the American side to clarify all the nuances.” The development was confirmed by Trump on Tuesday.

Last week, the White House announced the formation of the Board of Peace to "play an essential role in fulfilling" 20 points of Trump’s plan to permanently end Israel's war on Gaza and rebuild the enclave, as well as "providing strategic oversight, mobilizing international resources, and ensuring accountability as Gaza transitions from conflict to peace and development."

The US also formed the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza to implement phase two of Trump's "Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza Conflict," a founding Executive Board, and a Gaza Executive Board to support the transitional framework.

G7, Moldova

Peskov also touched on other issues, including messages from French President Emmanuel Macron shared by Trump on Tuesday.

Commenting on Macron's offer to Trump to set up a G7 meeting in Paris on Thursday afternoon, to which Russia would also be invited, Peskov said Moscow has not yet received such an invitation.

The offer was made public by the US president, who shared the screenshots posted on the American leader's Truth Social account with the caption: "Note from President Emmanuel Macron, of France:".

"I can invite the ukrainians, the danish, the syrians and the russians in the margins," Macron said in the screenshots shared.

Peskov also commented on Moldova’s announcement of initiating processes to withdraw from the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), saying Chisinau’s decision “didn't come as a surprise.”

“The fact is that Moldova's participation in the CIS has been frozen for a long time now,” Peskov said, expressing Russia’s “regret” on the matter.

On Monday, Moldovan Foreign Minister Mihai Popsoi told public radio broadcaster Radio Moldova that Chisinau has begun the process of denouncing three key agreements with the CIS, and that he expects the process will be completed by mid-February, after which a decision will be made by parliament.

The CIS was established in 1991 following the dissolution of the Soviet Union to promote cooperation in economic, political, and security affairs.

Its full members are Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, while Turkmenistan holds associate membership. Moldova suspended its participation in CIS meetings in 2022.