Kremlin Confirms: Trump Invited Putin to Join Gaza 'Peace Council'

The Kremlin announced today that U.S. President Donald Trump has extended an invitation to Russian President Vladimir Putin to join the newly formed "Peace Council," a body tasked with overseeing governance and reconstruction in the Gaza Strip following the ongoing conflict.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that the invite came through diplomatic channels, and Moscow is now carefully reviewing all the details while hoping for direct talks with Washington to clarify the proposal.

This development comes just a day after Jordan's King Abdullah II received a similar invitation, with Amman stating it's studying the documents through internal legal processes. Jordanian Foreign Ministry spokesman Fouad M'Ghali praised Trump's leadership in brokering the Gaza ceasefire and launching a comprehensive peace plan, emphasizing efforts toward security, stability, and peace in the region.

Trump unveiled the Peace Council, also referred to as the "Board of Peace," two days ago, positioning it as a key mechanism to manage Gaza post-war. The council's core members include high-profile figures like U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, White House envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, American-Jewish billionaire Mark Rowan, World Bank President Ajay Banga, and U.S. Deputy National Security Advisor Robert Gabriel.

Supporting this is an "Executive Board" acting as an interim body, featuring Witkoff, Kushner, Blair, Rowan, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Qatari senior official Ali al-Thawadi, Egyptian intelligence chief Hassan Rashad, Emirati Minister Reem al-Hashimi, and former Bulgarian Foreign and Defense Minister Nikolai Mladenov, who previously served as the UN's Middle East peace envoy. Israeli-Cypriot businessman Yakir Gabay, a specialist in real estate, tech, and international investments, along with UN representative Sigrid Kaag, will assist in managing and advancing the council's decisions.

The initiative has broader ambitions: Trump has reportedly invited leaders from up to 60 nations to join, with permanent seats available for a hefty $1 billion fee.

While starting with Gaza, backed by a UN Security Council mandate through 2027, the board could expand to address global conflicts, raising eyebrows about potentially sidelining traditional UN roles.

Russia and China abstained from the UN vote, citing concerns over the lack of a clear UN involvement in Gaza's future.

World leaders are responding cautiously. At least eight more countries, including India, Hungary, and Vietnam (with the latter two accepting), have confirmed receiving invites.

This flurry of diplomacy follows a fragile ceasefire in Gaza since October 2025, with former Palestinian Authority deputy minister Ali Shaath set to head the local National Council for Administration in Gaza (NCAG), supported by the executive board for effective governance.

With Putin and Abdullah now in the mix, all eyes are on how this unconventional council will shape the region's future.