Russia Reacts Coolly To Erdogan s Proposal To Establish Joint Middle East Peacekeeping Force
May 21, 2021
Russia adopted a circumspect role during the fighting between Israel and Hamas, and contented itself with the usual bromides about the need to deescalate violence and avoid civilian casualties. The one opportunity for a more active Russian role came when Russia was invited by her frenemy, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to participate in a peacekeeping contingent to the conflict zone. In a phone conversation Erdogan asked Russian President Vladimir Putin to back the proposal at the UN, given the countries shared position on the Jerusalem crisis.