The Middle East is on the brink of a large-scale war, says Putin

The Middle East is on the brink of a large-scale war, declared Russian President Vladimir Putin during a speech at the "BRICS+/Outreach" summit in Kazan.

"During the fighting in the Gaza Strip, more than 40,000 people have already died, the majority of whom are civilians," said the Russian leader.

He added that the military operations that started in Gaza have also spread to Lebanon, and the intensity of the Iran-Israel conflict has sharply increased.

"All of this resembles a chain reaction and places the Middle East on the brink of a large-scale war," he stated.

Putin emphasized that the resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict should involve the establishment of an independent Palestinian state that will coexist peacefully with Israel.

"The elimination of the historical injustice against the Palestinian people could serve as a guarantee of peace in the Middle East. As long as this issue remains unresolved, it will be impossible to break the vicious cycle of violence," the Russian president concluded.