Russia: Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas postpones visit to Moscow

(Patria) - Russia announced on Friday that Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas has "postponed" his trip to Moscow planned for this month, AFP reported.

Russia has stated several times that Abbas's visit to Moscow is possible without specifying a date in advance.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov told state media on Friday that the trip planned for November 15 has been postponed.

"It has been postponed. At the request of the Palestinian side," he said. Bogdanov stated that Palestinian officials informed Moscow that "the situation is difficult now" and that Abbas "cannot leave the region".

Bogdanov added that Russia "maintains constant working contact (with the Palestinian side) by phone".

Russia has good relations with both Israel and Hamas, which it does not consider a terrorist organization.

President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly called for the creation of a Palestinian state as a long-term solution to the conflict.