Palestinian movement Hamas is asking Russia, ahead of Russian President Vladimir Putin's meeting with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas, to encourage him to negotiate with Hamas on the issue of creating a national unity government in Palestine, Hamas political bureau deputy head Musa Abu Marzouk told Sputnik.
On Thursday, Putin is expected to hold a meeting with Abbas on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in Kazan.
"We discussed issues related to Palestinian national unity and the creation of a government that should govern the Gaza Strip after the war. We explained our position on this issue and the role of the Russian Federation in it … Abbas should be present in Kazan at the BRICS meeting and meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin there. We expressed our desire for the Russian side to talk to Abbas to encourage him to start negotiations so that we can achieve a result in this regard," Marzouk said.