RAMALLAH: President Mahmoud Abbas today received at the presidential headquarters in the city of Ramallah, Russian Special Envoy for the Middle East Vladimir Safronkov, in the presence of the Russian Ambassador to Palestine, Goche Buachidze. The Russian guest conveyed the greetings of Russian President Vladimir Putin to President Abbas, stressing the firm positions of the Russian Federation towards the Palestinian issue and supporting the rights of the Palestinian people to freedom and independence. President Abbas conveyed his greetings and appreciation to President Putin, for Russia's firm positions towards the Palestinian people, stressing the historical relations that bind the two friendly countries. The President briefed the Russian guest on the latest developments on the Palestinian arena and the ongoing Israeli aggression against the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including Jerusalem. President Abbas also reaffirmed the urgent need to stop the Israeli aggression immediately , deliver humanitarian aid to the entire Gaza Strip, complete Israeli withdrawal from the Strip, stop Israeli attacks in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, He further clarified the need to release Palestinian clearing funds and implement a political solution in accordance with the two-state solution based on international legitimacy resolutions, stressing the importance of Russian support for the State of Palestine to gain full membership in the United Nations. Source: Palestine News and Information Agency – WAFA