Vladimir Putin invited to join 'Peace Council' for Gaza, Kremlin says

Monday, 19 January 2026 11:51

Vladimir Putin has received an invitation to join a US-led "Peace Council" for Gaza, the Kremlin has said.

The Russian leader is currently studying the proposal, according to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.

Russia's statement is understood to refer to the Board of Peace unveiled by the White House ‌on Friday, which is tasked with supervising Gaza's transitional administration.

The board consists of chair, US President Donald Trump, and 11 executive members, including his special envoy Steve Witkoff, US secretary of state Marco Rubio and former British prime minister, Sir Tony Blair.

Separately, Mr Trump invited 60 world leaders to join the board, although permanent membership will only be available to those who pay $1bn (£747m).

Mr Peskov said the Russian president had "received an invitation through diplomatic channels to join this Peace Council".

"At the moment, we are studying all the details of this proposal and hope to have contacts with the American side to clarify all the nuances," he said.

Earlier on Monday, Kazakhstan's leader also accepted an invitation to join the board, according to his spokesperson, adding to Hungary and Vietnam, which confirmed their participation over the weekend.

Sir Keir Starmer has also reportedly been invited on to the board. On Monday, he backed the US as it develops phase two of the ceasefire plan.

"We welcome President Trump's focus on sustaining the ceasefire in Gaza and moving on to phase two. We are open to participating constructively in such efforts," the prime minister told reporters.

Read more from Sky News:
Analysis: Phase two will be complicated
Board of Peace is best option for Gaza

Phase two of the US-brokered 20-point plan to end the Gaza conflict aims to shift the focus beyond a ceasefire and towards demilitarisation, technocratic governance and reconstruction.

Major General Jasper Jeffers has been appointed commander of the International Stabilisation Force, an on-the-ground multinational force meant to enforce and guarantee the ceasefire.

An interim government for Gaza, the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG), is being headed by Dr Ali Sha'ath, described by the Trump administration as "a widely respected technocratic leader".

Sky News

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