Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Thursday that Türkiye's initiative on the Gaza Strip is an attempt to reach de-escalation and normalize the situation.
Speaking at a news conference in Pyongyang, the capital of North Korea, Lavrov said Russia is open to any constructive proposals, and would like to learn more about the initiative from Ankara.
"What exactly is meant we would like to hear from our Turkish friends, with whom we are in contact, including on this issue".
"We advocate that any approaches should be based on a balance of interests of the parties, and not on imposing someone's interests at the expense of infringing on others. It seems to me that the Turkish initiative is dictated by the desire to ensure such a balance. We will be ready to cooperate in its consideration," he said.
Türkiye has continued intensive efforts to calm the situation in Gaza, which was aggravated after the Oct. 7 surprise attack on Israel by Hamas, and Israeli response in the form of relentless bombardment and blockade of the besieged Palestinian enclave.
Ankara has proposed a guarantor system for the Israel-Palestine conflict to put an end to violence and reach a two-state solution.
It has also called for an immediate humanitarian cease-fire in Gaza, and declared three days of national mourning through Saturday over civilian losses.
Lavrov said there is a "high" risk of the current crisis escalating into a region-wide conflict.
He criticized the US for vetoing the resolution calling for a cease-fire, which could now lead the conflict to grow.
"We are witnessing attempts to 'blame' everything on Iran again. We consider these quite provocative. The Iranian leadership takes a responsible, balanced position and calls for preventing this conflict from spreading to the entire region, to neighboring countries," he said.
Asked about mechanisms that could stop the bloodshed, Lavrov said a decision by the UN Security Council with a call to all sides to end hostilities and ensure a possibility for addressing humanitarian issues could serve to this purpose.
"What are the prospects? I assume that the consultation of interested countries will continue. Egypt is taking the initiative. We would all like to see de-escalation in the Gaza Strip," he said.
The minister said he will have contacts in the coming days that will allow him to understand how realistic it is to expect a cease-fire.
Lavrov said he discussed with North Korean officials issues of resumption political contacts at different levels, enhancing trade and economic cooperation.
Moscow backs Pyongyang in its concerns about increased military activity of the US, Japan and South Korea, as well as Washington's line to transfer elements of its strategic infrastructure, including nuclear, to the region.
The minister dodged from a direct answer about dates of a visit by the Russian president to North Korea, saying the Russian and North Korean leaders met a month ago. "I am sure that contacts will continue," he said.
Responding to South Korea's concerns about possible escalation, Lavrov said: "Seoul is one of the factors that escalates the situation here."
"I have already mentioned the formation of the US-South Korea-Japan alliance to build up military potential here, including its nuclear components. This creates tension," he emphasized.
Lavrov noted that North Korea initiated peace talks several times, but all attempts were either disrupted or suspended by the opposite side that continues to put forward unacceptable conditions, demanding unilateral concessions from Pyongyang.
"Russia and the DPRK (Democratic People's Republic of Korea), like the PRC (People's Republic of China), are in favor of dialogue and the resumption of negotiations without any preconditions. I think that this line will find broad support in the Southeast Asian region as a whole," he said.
The minister said he would recommend North Korea as a tourist destination.
