Russia President Vladimir Putin and China’s President Xi Jinping Set Conditions Before Accepting Donald Trump’s U.S. Led Gaza Peace Board Invitation

Washington, D.C. — Diplomatic tension resurfaced this week after Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping responded to U.S. President Donald Trump’s invitation to join a newly proposed “Gaza Board of Peace.” According to officials familiar with the discussions, both leaders signaled that they are not opposed to participating, but made it clear they would only do so under unspecified conditions.

The invitation, which the White House described as an effort to assemble “a powerful international coalition for stabilizing Gaza and preventing further regional escalation,” was quickly relayed to Moscow and Beijing. The Biden administration had previously supported multilateral efforts on the matter, but Trump has sought to create his own foreign policy channels emphasizing major-power involvement.

In a brief statement to reporters, a Kremlin spokesperson confirmed that Russia received the proposal and responded by outlining conditions for participation, though the details were not disclosed publicly. “We are open to constructive peace efforts,” the spokesperson said. “However, our participation must align with certain conditions communicated to the U.S. side.”

China issued a similar stance, with Beijing’s Foreign Ministry stating that China “supports peaceful resolution and international cooperation,” but added that acceptance of the Gaza Board invitation is conditional. The statement emphasized that China’s position was communicated “clearly and directly” to Washington.

The White House acknowledged receipt of both responses but did not comment on the nature of the conditions. Administration officials instead described the exchanges as “active diplomatic conversations” and said discussions are expected to continue through backchannels.

Foreign policy analysts say the move underscores the broader power dynamics at play. “Trump wants the optics and influence of having China and Russia on board,” said one international relations expert. “But both Beijing and Moscow want to avoid appearing as junior partners in any U.S.-led framework. Setting conditions allows them to signal autonomy without rejecting the idea outright.”

The future of the Gaza Board of Peace initiative now rests on whether Washington and the two major powers can bridge their diplomatic differences. In the meantime, European and Middle Eastern governments are watching closely, hoping the talks do not stall at a critical moment for regional stability.

For now, the U.S. continues to seek international support, while Moscow and Beijing hold their positions — signaling neither rejection nor acceptance, but a willingness to engage only on their terms.