Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas expected in Moscow, Russian media reports

‘An agreement has been reached that Mr Abbas will come here to Moscow,’ Russia’s RBC news said, citing Palestine’s ambassador to Russia

Russian President Vladimir Putin last met Abbas a year ago on the sidelines of a regional conference in Kazakhstan

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Mahmoud Abbas, President of the Palestinian Authority. Photo: dpa

Published: 7:18am, 10 Oct 2023

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is expected to visit Moscow, Russian news media quoted the Palestinian envoy to Moscow as saying late on Monday.

“We are awaiting an official statement from the Kremlin, from the Russian side, about when the visit will take place,” Russia’s RBC news outlet said, citing Palestine’s ambassador to Russia Abdel Hafiz Nofal.

“An agreement has been reached that Mr Abbas will come here to Moscow.”

Russia’s President Vladimir Putin and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Astana, Kazakhstan in October 2022. Photo: Sputnik / Vyacheslav Prokofyev / Pool via Reuters

Separately, Nofal told Russia’s state television that the two sides maintain “daily contacts.”

On Monday, Israel imposed a total blockade of the Gaza Strip after an unprecedented weekend attack by the Islamist group Hamas that has killed hundreds.

Russia, which has relationships with Arab countries, Iran and Hamas as well as with Israel, condemned violence against both sides and accused the United States of ignoring the need for an independent Palestinian state.

Russian President Vladimir Putin last met Abbas a year ago on the sidelines of a regional conference in Kazakhstan. Abbas last visited Russia two years ago, according to Russian media.

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