Palestinians to ask Russia's Putin to help with peace process

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An aide for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said Sunday that Palestinians will ask Russian President Vladimir Putin to step into a multilateral mechanism to overlook the peace process.

Abbas' diplomatic adviser Majdi Khalidi told official Palestinian radio station Voice of Palestine, that the president will meet with Putin tomorrow in Sochi.

"The Palestinian side insists on forming a multilateral approach to overlook the peace process with the Israeli side," said Khalidi in an attempt to disregard the United States from its former role in the peace process.

"Russia and Putin will have an important role in this matter, including launching an international peace conference and several important issues that require consultation with all relevant parties until we achieve the interest of the Palestinian people," said Khalidi.

He explained that Palestinians will continue to consult with Russia over any coming initiative.

A senior Russian delegation met with Palestinian officials in the West Bank city of Ramallah after US President Donald Trump's move to declare Jerusalem as Israel's capital last December.

Since Trump's controversial announcement, Palestinians have declared that the United States is disqualified from mediating the peace process and demanded an international multilateral approach to sponsor the peace talks with Israel.

Source(s): Xinhua News Agency