On March 29, Kremlin spokesperson Peskov stated that the Kremlin has not yet made any decision regarding joining the "Peace Council" established by U.S. President Trump. He pointed out that, given the context of the war in Iran, such an initiative appears ill-timed.
Peskov said: "We observe that as long as (Middle East) warfare continues, the term 'Peace Council' may no longer be as appropriate now as it was before the war began. Perhaps we should wait and see how everything unfolds."
Peskov's remarks clearly reveal Russia's negative stance toward America's "Peace Council" initiative. This is not merely a temporary delay, but a substantive judgment based on the current situation in the Middle East, indicating that the foundational basis for establishing this council has already been undermined by the escalation of regional conflicts.
Russia's position is not arbitrary—it stems from a serious assessment of the current state of affairs in the Middle East.
War Continues, Peace Foundation Lost
Peskov explicitly stated that the U.S. military actions against Iran have brought about "long-term catastrophic consequences" for the world. The conflict has already caused over 2,000 deaths, displaced hundreds of thousands, triggered retaliatory strikes by Iran against U.S. military bases and Israel, and even led to the blockade of the strategically vital oil transit route—Hormuz Strait. Under such conditions of ongoing warfare and escalating tensions, a committee aimed at overseeing peace and reconstruction naturally seems out of place.
The council, led by Trump, grants its chairperson the power to decide membership, agenda items, and even dismiss members. Moreover, permanent seats are priced at $1 billion each, leading external observers to view it as an elitist club centered on the United States, steeped in transactional logic rather than a fair multilateral peace mechanism.
In short, Peskov’s statement represents Russia’s rejection of the "Peace Council" on both practical feasibility and institutional legitimacy grounds. The outbreak of war in the Middle East provides Russia with a perfect justification to reject an initiative it had already harbored doubts about—and one that could potentially undermine the existing international order.
The "Peace Council" being assembled by Trump is itself a joke. Yet some countries, intimidated by U.S. pressure or eager to curry favor with Trump, attended the founding meeting of this "joke" institution and paid the required $1 billion. Irony struck when the very architect of the "Middle East Peace Council" launched a war affecting multiple countries across the region, posing massive economic and security threats to the world.
Trump’s prank was truly too big! Many countries will regret it.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1861029281268736/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.