In in search of members for his Gaza Peace Panel, to handle the redevelopment of the Gaza Strip after years of war, Donald Trump has turned to an unlikely person.
The US President has reportedly invited Vladimir Putin to affix the body, which is able to set the framework and handle the funding for the redevelopment of Gaza.
Russian state media first reported Putin’s invitation to affix the board, with Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirming it.
‘Indeed, President Putin also received a proposal through diplomatic channels to affix this Peace Council. In the mean time, we’re studying all the main points of this proposal,’ he said.
The appointment of Putin is certain to lift some eyebrows, given he’s waged a years-long war which has decimated a big a part of Ukraine, with peace talks still stalling.
Last week, Trump announced other appointees to his Gaza Peace Board, which were objected to by Israel.
President Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said the so-called Board of Peace ‘was not coordinated with Israel and is contrary to its policy’.
No Israeli officials have been named to the committee, although an Israeli businessman has been.
Trump called it ‘the Best and Most Prestigious Board ever assembled at any time, anyplace’ ahead of the announcement.
The officials listed included US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, special envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff, and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner.
Former UN special envoy Nickolay Mladenov was also named to the board, alongside billionaire Marc Rowan, World Bank President Ajay Banga, and US Deputy National Security Adviser Robert Gabriel.
Trump previously said the board would come with former Prime Minister Tony Blair, whom he called a ‘good man’.
Dr Dafydd Townley, a member of the University of Portsmouth Military Education Team and senior teaching fellow in International Security, previously told Metro the pairing of Trump and Blair might be useful.
‘Blair has a history of working with those from the other end of the political spectrum, reminiscent of George W. Bush, with whom he had a excellent relationship, along along with his cabinet.
‘So, you would possibly expect that Blair is reasonably pragmatic in his approach to diplomacy,’ he said.’
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