Putin backs Trump's three-phase Gaza ceasefire plan, urges action

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday praised U.S. President Donald Trump’s mediation in the Gaza ceasefire agreement and said Moscow backed the initiative from the outset, urging that the three phase plan be put into practice. Putin made the remarks at a summit in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, where he also discussed broader regional ties and arms control with visiting leaders.

Putin said President Trump "put forward his well known initiatives, and as you saw, Russia supported them almost immediately," and added that he hoped the measures would be implemented in practice. The agreement, announced this week, calls for the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, a daily flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza, a phased return of displaced residents, and a gradual withdrawal of Israeli troops under international guarantees. The ceasefire was reported to be beginning pending formal approval by the Israeli cabinet.

Russian officials offered positive assessments while urging follow through. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov described the plan as "the best solution we have on the table" and said it gave hope. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov...