Putin calls for ex-Soviet states to expand their influence and comments on Israel-Hamas war

The Associated Press

Russian President Vladimir Putin has commended the growing cooperation within a Moscow-dominated alliance of several ex-Soviet nations despite Western sanctions against his country. Putin met in Kyrgyzstan’s capital with the leaders of fellow members of the Commonwealth of Independent States. He says economic exchanges between Russia and the alliance’s other nations have increased. The Russian leader also commented on the Israel-Hamas war. Putin argued that Israel has the right to defend itself after an attack by Hamas that was “unprecedented not only in its scale, but also its cruelty.” At the same time, Putin said it was unacceptable for the Israeli military onslaught on Gaza to “make all of its residents suffer.”