The Degree of Confrontation Between Israel and Iran has Increased: Putin

On the face of many world leaders, including UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, asking for pace in Ukraine, Gaza, Lebanon and Sudan, Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday told the BRICS leaders that the Middle East was on the brink of a full-scale war after a sharp rise in tension between Israel and Iran.

"The degree of confrontation between Israel and Iran has sharply increased. All this resembles a chain reaction and puts the entire Middle East on the brink of a full-scale war," news organisations reported Putin as saying.

China President Xi Jinping, too, according to news organisations, spoke on Ukraine and said that China wanted a political settlement in Ukraine. He said that Beijing was willing to offer chance for peace. "We need to work for an early de-escalation of the situation and pave the way for a political settlement," Xi said. Speaking on the Middle-East, Xi said there should immediately be a ceasefire in Gaza.