Russia has rescheduled its planned summit with Arab leaders in a last-minute move after only a handful of invitees agreed to attend.

Source: Bloomberg, citing a source familiar with the preparations for the event

Details: Russia had been preparing for the summit since the spring, when Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin first announced it. The event was scheduled for 15 October, with invitations sent to the heads of 22 Arab states. It was to be held under the slogan "cooperation for peace, stability and security".

The Kremlin officially postponed the event on the evening of 9 October, explaining that several leaders could not travel to Moscow while Israel and Hamas were implementing a ceasefire proposal advanced by US President Donald Trump.

Quote from Bloomberg: There simply weren't enough Arab leaders saying 'yes' to warrant holding a summit. That's what forced Russian President Vladimir Putin into a last-minute delay of an event he'd hoped would boost his standing in the region." [N.B. Ukrainska Pravda does not recognise Putin as president – ed.]

More details: On Friday 10 October, Putin said the postponement had been his own decision.

Quote from Putin: "I did this because I don't want to interfere with the process that, as we hope, has now been set in motion."

More details: Bloomberg wrote that the delay highlights how most of the Arab world is now more interested in building ties with Trump, who has grown increasingly frustrated with Putin's refusal to end the invasion of Ukraine despite US diplomatic efforts.

Quote from Bloomberg: "Yet as of Tuesday [7 October – ed.] only a few leaders, including Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa and the head of the Arab League, had confirmed their participation. Regional heavy-weights, such as Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, United Arab Emirates President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Egypt President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi were not officially confirmed."

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