No Russian delegation at meeting of Trump's "Board of Peace" – Russian Foreign Ministry
Maria Zakharova, spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry, has said Russia does not plan to send a delegation to the first meeting of the "Board of Peace", established at the initiative of US President Donald Trump.
Source: Kremlin-aligned Russian news agencies RIA Novosti and Interfax, citing Zakharova
Quote: "Russia will not be represented at the Board of Peace meeting."
Details: Zakharova added that Moscow has yet to finalise its stance on the body.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told Russian media outlets earlier that Vladimir Putin's participation in the event was not planned.
Media reports indicate that the first meeting of the body, established at Trump's initiative as a platform for addressing international conflicts, is scheduled for 19 February in Washington.
Background:
- Belarus and Russia were invited to join the Board. On 20 January, self-proclaimed Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko became the first world leader to sign an official confirmation that his country would accept Trump's invitation to join the "Board of Peace".
- Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin said that Russia is willing to contribute US$1 billion from Russian assets frozen in the US to Trump's "Board of Peace for Gaza".
- US digital news outlet Axios reported that the White House is planning to hold the first meeting of leaders of Trump's "Board of Peace" on 19 February.
- On 11 February, Lukashenko's press secretary, Natalia Eismont, said the invitation for Lukashenko to attend the Board meeting had arrived too late. His schedule for that period was already full, and there were matters that "cannot be postponed".
- Additionally, Lukashenko's office cited sanctions-related logistical problems, such as the closure of EU airspace, as the reason he will not attend the meeting.
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