Many will agree that the escalation of the situation in the Middle East represents a clear example of the failure of US policy in the region, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday as the latest Palestinian-Israeli conflict, which erupted over the weekend, entered its fourth day.
"Unfortunately, we see a sharp escalation of the situation in the Middle East. I think that many will agree with me that this is a clear example of the failure of the policy of the United States in the Middle East, which tried to monopolize the settlement, but, unfortunately, was not concerned with finding compromises acceptable to both sides, but, on the contrary, promoted its own ideas about how it should be done," Putin said at a meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed al Sudani.
According to the Russian leader, Washington put pressure on both sides of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, each time without taking into account fundamental interests of the Palestinian people.
Putin also stressed the need to implement decisions by the UN Security Council on the creation of an independent, sovereign Palestinian state.
The Russian president also said that all parties to the latest conflict between Israel and Palestine must strive to minimize harm to civilians and reduce it to zero.
"In any case, whatever happens there, I know both your position, dear prime minister, and our position is that damage to the civilian population must be minimized and reduced to zero. Moreover, we call on all conflicting parties to do this," Putin.
Putin has also invited the Iraqi prime minister to discuss the Middle East conflict and other issues in more detail during the al-Sudani's current visit to Moscow.