Palestinian Leader Abbas to Visit Moscow April 12

RAMALLAH (Sputnik) – Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will arrive in Moscow on April 12 for an official visit, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Thursday.

Earlier in the day, Abbas’ adviser Madji Halidi confirmed the visit to Sputnik:

“Palestinian head Mahmoud Abbas will arrive on an official visit to Russia on the twelfth of this month.”

Halidi added that Abbas will hold a series of meetings with Russian officials and will deliver a speech at the People’s Friendship University of Russia in Moscow.

Along with the above, economic cooperation agreements are expected to be signed during the visit.

Palestinians seek the creation of an independent state on territories on the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, partially occupied by Israel, as well as on the Gaza Strip. Palestine has designated Jerusalem as its capital and called on Israel to withdraw from the Palestinian territories it seized in the 1967 war.

In March, Russian President Vladimir Putin assured Palestine that Russia will help in achieving its goal of becoming an independent state.

Russia is one of the 135 United Nations members that have recognized the State of Palestine.