Moscow taking necessary steps to help resolve Middle East conflict, envoy says

MOSCOW

Moscow not only confirms its readiness to carry out a mediation mission to help end the Middle East conflict, but it is also taking the necessary steps, Russian Ambassador-at-Large Vladimir Safronkov said on Monday.

In an interview with the Russian state news agency RIA, he said Russia maintains "almost daily" contacts with all parties, calling for the end of military confrontation and the start of a political settlement process and offering options to address concerns about Iran's nuclear program.

"Moscow not only confirms its readiness to carry out a mediation mission but is already taking corresponding steps," he stressed.

Safronkov praised the efforts of Türkiye, Egypt, and Pakistan aimed at resolving the conflict, noting that Russia "actively supports" them.

"Lessons must be drawn from history, and they show that all attempts to forcibly resolve regional problems have led to their repeated complication and, instead of stability and the promised 'democratic renaissance,' have generated new crises and exacerbated long-standing ones," he noted.

Safronkov pointed out that hostilities in the Persian Gulf have "a profoundly negative impact" on the situation in Gaza and the Middle East settlement "in its classical sense," as well as the overall state of affairs in the region.

When asked about organizing a Russian-Arab summit, he said it is "a highly relevant task for all times."

"This issue, including new summit dates, is currently being coordinated," he noted.

In response to another question about the relevance of US President Donald Trump's peace plan for the Gaza Strip in the aftermath of the Iran crisis, the diplomat said that it has not lost its relevance now.

"The merit of this initiative is that it made it possible to end the 'hot phase' of the war, although the ceasefire regime continues to be systematically violated, leading to casualties, primarily among Palestinians," he noted.

In addition, he said there has been no progress in implementing other key elements of the American initiative, such as the formation of a Palestinian national committee in the sector and the deployment of international stabilization forces.

Commenting on the Abraham Accords, he said for the agreements to be sustainable, they must not form bloc alliances, erect dividing walls, or take on confrontational forms.

"Otherwise, confrontation sooner or later becomes inevitable, undermining the stability and security of both the members of such alliances and many other states. It is important to be guided by a positive, unifying agenda," the diplomat warned.

The Abraham Accords are a series of US-brokered agreements from 2020 that normalized diplomatic relations between Israel and several Arab and Muslim-majority nations, beginning with the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain​​​​​​.