MOSCOW: Russian President Vladimir Putin said Monday at the start of talks with Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas that he had discussed the Middle East conflict with his US counterpart Donald Trump. “I just spoke with American President Trump,” Putin told Abbas before continuing the talks behind closed doors. Trump told Putin that “now is the time to work toward an enduring peace agreement”, according to a White House statement. Abbas has refused any contact with Trump’s administration since Washington’s decision at the end of last year. “Given the atmosphere created by the United State’s actions, we … refuse any cooperation with the United States as a mediator,” said Abbas.

Source: Manila Times February 13, 2018 02:15 UTC