By SCM REPORTER
VLADIMIR Putin has stunned the world by offering a cool $1 billion to help the Palestinian people—but there’s a cheeky catch.
The Russian strongman says he is ready to cough up the cash for Donald Trump’s brand-new “Board of Peace,” an international group designed to rebuild Gaza and settle global scores.
But in a move that will raise eyebrows in Washington, Vlad wants to pay the bill using Russian assets that were frozen by the US government.
Speaking at a high-stakes meeting of his Security Council, Putin said the massive donation would be used to tackle the “acute humanitarian problems” facing Palestinians.
He told officials: “Taking into account Russia’s special relationship with the Palestinian people, we could, I think, send $1 billion from Russian assets frozen under the previous US administration to the Board of Peace.”
The Russian leader claimed he has already been in talks with “US representatives” about the plan, which would see the money unblocked to fund hospitals, water, and food in the war-torn Gaza Strip.
Putin said: “We are prepared to allocate a billion dollars to this new Board of Peace organisation in order to, first and foremost, support the Palestinian people, to use these funds to reconstruct the Gaza Strip and solve the issues faced by Palestine.
“As I have said already, these will come from the funds frozen in the United States back under the previous administration. I think this is entirely possible.”
The move comes after President Trump invited Putin to join his elite “Peace Board” during the World Economic Forum in Davos this week.
Trump has told world leaders that a $1 billion “entry fee” secures a permanent seat on the board, which is expected to oversee the future of Gaza and potentially mediate in the Ukraine conflict.
While Putin hasn’t officially signed up yet—saying he needs to chat with his “strategic partners” first—the $1 billion offer is seen as a major signal that he is ready to deal with the new residents of the White House.
The cash Vlad is offering isn’t exactly in his pocket. Around $300 billion of Russian sovereign funds were frozen by Western nations following the invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
By offering to use $1 billion of that “trapped” cash for a high-profile peace mission, Putin is effectively forcing the US to choose: keep the money locked up or let it flow to help the Palestinians.
Putin added: “We have always supported any efforts aimed at strengthening international stability.”
What is the ‘Board of Peace’?
The Brainchild: A new international body proposed by Donald Trump to oversee the “20-Point Gaza Peace Plan.”
The Cost: Permanent members must contribute $1 billion to the pot. Those who don’t pay can only join for three-year stints.
The Goal: To bypass “UN red tape” and use business-style leadership to rebuild Gaza, demilitarize the region, and eventually tackle other global wars.
The Members: So far, over 35 world leaders have been invited, including representatives from Israel, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey.
