Putin Thanks Hamas for "Humanitarian Act" After Meeting Freed Russian-Israeli Hostages at Kremlin
Russian President Vladimir Putin hosted former Gaza hostage Alexander "Sasha" Troufanov alongside his mother and fiancée at the Kremlin on Wednesday, publicly thanking Hamas leadership for what he called a "humanitarian act" in releasing them. The high-profile meeting underscores Russia's growing diplomatic influence in the Israel-Hamas conflict while raising questions about Moscow's strategic positioning in the Middle East.
Russian Diplomatic Channels Credited for Hostage Release
President Putin welcomed former hostage Sasha Troufanov, his mother Elena Trufanova, and his fiancée Sapir Cohen at a special Kremlin reception on Wednesday evening. All three had been kidnapped from Kibbutz Nir Oz during the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, that claimed over 1,200 Israeli lives, including Sasha's father Vitaly Times of Israel1.
"The fact that you managed to go free is the result of the fact that Russia has stable, long-term relations with the Palestinian people, with its representatives, and with a wide variety of organizations," Putin stated during the meeting, which was also attended by Russia's Chief Rabbi Berel Lazar and the President of the Federation of Jewish Communities of Russia Alexander Boroda AllIsrael2.
While Elena and Sapir were released after 54 days in captivity during a November 2023 ceasefire—reportedly as "a gesture to Putin" due to their dual Russian-Israeli citizenship—Sasha remained in Hamas custody for 498 days until his February release as part of a multi-phase deal brokered by the United States, Qatar, and Egypt AllIsrael2.
Putin Extends Gratitude to Hamas Leadership
In a move likely to raise eyebrows in Western capitals, Putin explicitly thanked Hamas for cooperating with Russian diplomatic efforts. "We need to express words of gratitude to the leadership of the political wing of Hamas for cooperating with us and carrying out this humanitarian act," he said in footage released by Russian state media Times of Israel1.
The Russian president carefully avoided terms like "kidnapped" or "hostage" throughout the meeting and refrained from using the word "murder" when referencing the death of Sasha's father, instead referring to it as "a tragedy that is probably not worth discussing right now" AllIsrael2.
Putin expressed shock upon learning about Troufanov's 498 days in captivity and pledged continued efforts to secure additional releases. "We will do everything to ensure that such acts happen as often as possible and that all the people who are still in the same conditions that you had been in are also released," he stated Times of Israel1.
Russia's Multi-Vector Middle East Strategy
The Kremlin meeting highlights Russia's unique position as one of few global powers maintaining relationships with all major players in the Middle East conflict—including Israel, Iran, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, and Hamas AllIsrael2.
This diplomatic balancing act was further evidenced by revelations that days before Troufanov's February release, a Russian deputy foreign minister held high-level talks in Moscow with a senior Hamas official, pressing for the fulfillment of promises to free Troufanov and another Israeli hostage with Russian connections, Maxim Herkin Times of Israel1.
"Russia's role in this release demonstrates its continuing influence in the region despite Western attempts to isolate Moscow," said Dr. Anna Borshchevskaya, senior fellow at The Washington Institute for Near East Policy. "Putin is leveraging these humanitarian moments to project Russian power and relevance on the global stage."
Hostage Crisis Continues Amid Collapsed Negotiations
While the Kremlin meeting celebrated successful releases, the broader hostage situation remains dire. According to Israeli authorities, 59 hostages remain in Gaza, with 49 others confirmed killed in captivity since October 7 Jerusalem Post3.
Hamas recently released a propaganda video showing Maxim Herkin alongside fellow hostage Bar Kupershtein—the first confirmation either man was still alive since their abduction during the Nova music festival near Reim AllIsrael2.
In February, a senior Hamas official stated that Herkin would be given priority in the second phase of a hostage release agreement "as a gesture to the Russian government." However, that deal collapsed after its first stage, with Israel resuming military operations in Gaza last month AllIsrael2.
Israeli intelligence agencies believe that of the 59 remaining hostages, approximately 24—including Herkin and Kupershtein—are still alive AllIsrael2.
Expert Analysis: Russia's Strategic Calculus
Middle East experts view Putin's involvement in hostage negotiations as part of a broader geopolitical strategy.
"Moscow is positioning itself as an indispensable mediator in one of the world's most intractable conflicts," explains Dr. Maha Yahya, director of the Carnegie Middle East Center. "While Western powers struggle to broker lasting ceasefires, Russia demonstrates its ability to deliver concrete humanitarian outcomes."
The timing of the Kremlin meeting coincides with reports of consultations on an Israeli ceasefire proposal with Hamas nearing completion, suggesting Russia may be angling for a more prominent role in future negotiations Jerusalem Post3.
"Putin's careful language—thanking Hamas while meeting with Israeli victims—reflects Russia's delicate balancing act," notes Dr. Mark Katz, professor of government at George Mason University. "Moscow needs to maintain credibility with all parties to maximize its diplomatic leverage."
Implications for Regional Dynamics
Russia's involvement in the hostage crisis introduces a new dimension to an already complex regional equation. By demonstrating its ability to secure releases through direct engagement with Hamas—an organization designated as terrorist by the United States and European Union—Moscow challenges Western diplomatic paradigms.
For Israel, Russia's engagement presents both opportunities and complications. While any channel that secures the release of hostages is valuable, Putin's public expressions of gratitude toward Hamas may undermine international efforts to isolate the organization.
"Israel finds itself in a difficult position," says Dr. Ehud Eiran, senior research fellow at the Maritime Policy & Strategy Research Center. "They need all possible diplomatic avenues to bring hostages home, but Putin's framing of these releases as Hamas 'humanitarian acts' rather than reversals of terrorist kidnappings is problematic for Israeli narratives."
A New Chapter in Middle East Diplomacy?
As the Gaza conflict enters its seventh month with no clear resolution in sight, Russia's diplomatic maneuvers may signal a shift in regional power dynamics. By publicly engaging with both Israeli victims and Hamas leadership, Putin demonstrates Moscow's unique position straddling divides that Western powers have found unbridgeable.
Will Russia's approach yield more successful hostage releases when traditional negotiation channels have stalled? And how might the Kremlin leverage these humanitarian successes into broader regional influence at a time of American retrenchment and European distraction?
