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Russian President Vladimir Putin has met citizens of the country freed by Hamas from captivity in Gaza and said Moscow's long-standing ties with Palestinians helped secure their freedom.
“The fact that you are now free is a result of Russia's many years of stable relations with the Palestinian people, with the representatives of different organisations,” Russian news agencies quoted Mr Putin as saying to former hostage Alexander Trufanov and members of his family.
Russia would do whatever was necessary to ensure those still in captivity are freed, Mr Putin said in a late-night meeting on Wednesday at the Kremlin.
Mr Trufanov was released in February after about 500 days in captivity as part of talks that led to a Gaza ceasefire. He thanked Mr Putin for helping secure his release and said he viewed the hostages remaining in the enclave “like brothers”.
Mr Putin also presented flowers to Mr Trufanov's mother, Elena Trufanova, and his fiancee, Sapir Cohen, who were also among 240 hostages seized by Hamas during its attack against Israel on October 7, 2023. The pair were released later that year, as was Mr Trufanov's grandmother. Mr Trufanov's father was killed in the violence on October 7.
Russia's chief rabbi and the head of the Federation of Russian Jewish Communities was also at the meeting.
Moscow has sought to maintain good ties with both sides in the Gaza conflict, but has said a settlement in the Middle East is only possible based on a two-state solution.
“Here we have to offer a word of gratitude to the leadership and to the political wing of Hamas for a gesture made to us in carrying out this humanitarian act,” Mr Putin said of the hostage release.
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