Jakarta. A Russian diplomat has said that Moscow “respects” Indonesia’s membership in the Board of Peace for Gaza, but remains skeptical of whether this group can be the cure for conflict if it does not involve Palestinians.

Indonesia has joined the Board of Peace, an organization that US President Donald Trump proposed to oversee the Gaza truce. The group, which Trump helms in perpetuity, has gained mixed reactions. While Indonesia is among its founding members, Russia has its own doubts over the group. Russian Ambassador to Indonesia Sergei Tolchenov said that Moscow understood why Jakarta had pursued a seat, citing its staunch support for Palestine.

“We respect this sovereign decision of Indonesia, and we understand why President Prabowo Subianto [does so],” Tolchenov told a press briefing in Jakarta on Thursday. “Indonesia would like to protect the Palestinians. Foreign Minister Sugiono had mentioned that Indonesia still would like to have the two-state solution.”

The Kremlin has not formulated its formal position. But Tolchenov went on to say how the board’s founding charter did not mention the two-state solution. This is the popular proposed approach where Israelis and Palestinians can live side by side in peace, within recognized borders.

“There are no Palestinians in the Board of Peace, while there are Israelis. How can we do it? But we respect the decisions of those countries that participate. Let’s see what will be done,” Tolchenov said.

Palestine is not on the board, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has signed as a member. Early this week, the board’s Bulgarian-born director-general Nickolay Mladenov announced that the Palestinian Authority had set up a liaison office to facilitate coordination with the group. Tolchenov also commented on how Trump wanted the Board of Peace’s scope to tackle other regional conflicts as well.

"This is a little bit strange. Because the board doesn't represent the majority, [without] big players like China and Russia," Tolchenov said.

Jakarta has repeatedly defended its rationale behind joining the peace board. Foreign Ministry’s spokesman Vahd Nabyl A Mulachela not long ago told the Jakarta Globe that the membership doesn’t mean Indonesia is warming up to Israel. Indonesia does not have diplomatic ties with Israel despite rising trade, which hit $289.6 million in 2025.

“Our presence in the board should not be interpreted as a tie normalization with anyone. … We are in the board based on the mandates of stabilization, civilian protection, humanitarian aid, and Gaza reconstruction,” Nabyl said.

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