Davos, Switzerland – US President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday that Russian President Vladimir Putin had accepted his invitation to join the controversial “Board of Peace,” a grouping of world leaders with a vaguely defined mission.
“He was invited, he’s accepted. Many people have accepted,” Trump told reporters in Davos, referring to his initiative.
When asked about criticism for including non-democratic leaders, Trump said, “Some are controversial, but if I put all babies on the board, it wouldn’t be very much.”
In response, Moscow said the Kremlin is still reviewing the proposal. Speaking at a televised cabinet meeting, Putin said, “The Russian foreign ministry has been charged with studying the documents and consulting our strategic partners. Only after that will we reply to the invitation.”
Putin added that Russia could pay the $1 billion requested for permanent membership using “Russian assets frozen under the previous American administration.” He suggested the funds could also be used to rebuild areas damaged during conflicts, contingent on a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine.
Invitations to the board have been sent to dozens of world leaders, each with a $1 billion fee for a permanent seat. While the initiative was originally intended to oversee Gaza’s reconstruction, its charter appears to extend beyond the Strip, aiming to rival the United Nations—a move that has raised concerns among US allies including France.