The Kremlin announced that Vladimir Putin has been invited to join President Trump’s new international “board of peace,” intended to oversee the Gaza ceasefire. While Russia is currently clarifying the details of the offer, the invitation has sparked international controversy due to Putin’s ongoing war in Ukraine and the board’s unusual structure, which includes a $1 billion fee for permanent membership. The board, chaired by Trump, already includes figures like Tony Blair and Jared Kushner, though countries like France have already signaled they will decline membership due to its broad and vaguely defined global agenda. Meanwhile, the proposed Gaza ceasefire remains unstable as regional tensions persist and key stakeholders like Israel express opposition to certain aspects of the plan.
Date: January 19, 2026. Source: theguardian.com