Overview
- Russia confirmed President Vladimir Putin received an invitation to join the U.S.-led Board of Peace and said Moscow is reviewing the proposal and seeking details.
- Roughly 60 invitations have gone out, with Hungary, Argentina, Kazakhstan and Vietnam accepting, Canada signaling participation without paying for permanence, and France indicating it will decline as Britain voices reservations.
- A leaked draft charter reportedly ties permanent membership to about $1 billion, omits explicit reference to Gaza, and concentrates authority in the chair, with The Times reporting Trump would lead for life unless he steps down.
- The White House has pushed back on portrayals of a mandatory fee, framing payments as a marker of commitment, as Israel criticizes the Gaza executive subgroup’s composition and some invitees question transparency.
- Officials are preparing a launch event in Davos this week, even as a prior U.N. Security Council authorization limits the board’s mandate to Gaza through 2027, prompting debate over legal authority and scope.