Russian President Vladimir Putin has ignited a firestorm by urging former hostages to express gratitude to Hamas for their release, calling it a “humanitarian act” during a Kremlin meeting on April 16, 2025. The remarks came as he hosted Alexander “Sasha” Troufanov, a Russian-Israeli dual citizen freed in February after 498 days in captivity, along with his mother, Yelena Trufanova, and partner, Sapir Cohen, both released earlier in November 2023. Putin credited Russia’s ties with Palestinian groups, including Hamas, for securing their freedom, but his comments—made in front of a family that lost Troufanov’s father to Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack—have drawn sharp condemnation and fueled debates about Russia’s stance in the Israel-Palestinian conflict.
The meeting, widely covered by Russian state media like RT, saw Putin avoid terms like “hostages” or “captivity,” instead framing the releases as a diplomatic win. “The fact that you are now free is the result of Russia having stable, long-term relations with the Palestinian people,” he said, adding, “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.” Troufanov, who was shot in both legs during his abduction from Kibbutz Nir Oz and learned of his father Vitaly’s murder only after his release, responded with a plea for the remaining 59 hostages, saying, “They’re like my brothers—half my heart is in Gaza.” Putin promised to keep pushing for more releases, but his praise for Hamas has overshadowed the gesture.
The backlash was swift. Israeli officials and advocates slammed Putin’s remarks as tone-deaf and offensive, with the Israeli Embassy in Moscow calling Russian media’s framing of Hamas as “resistance fighters” antisemitic and unprofessional. Online, the reaction was even fiercer. Posts condemned Putin for cozying up to a group responsible for the October 7 atrocities, with one user writing, “Putin shook hands with a freed hostage—and thanked Hamas. Not Israel. Not the IDF. Hamas. Putin—go f*** yourself.” Another called it “insanity,” labeling Putin “evil personified” for thanking Hamas in front of survivors who endured trauma and loss. Critics argue it glorifies a terrorist group while ignoring the broader context of Hamas’s actions, including the murder of Troufanov’s father and ongoing captivity of others like Maxim Herkin, a Russian-Israeli still held.
Supporters of Putin’s stance, though fewer, see it as pragmatic diplomacy. Russia has long maintained ties with Hamas, which it doesn’t designate as a terrorist organization, unlike the U.S. and EU. Putin’s team argues these relationships—bolstered by meetings like the one between Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov and Hamas’s Musa Abu Marzouk in February 2025—were key to freeing Troufanov and others. Some Russian voices online framed it as a win for Moscow’s “balanced” Middle East policy, which backs a two-state solution and keeps channels open with all sides, including Israel and Iran. They point out that Troufanov’s release, alongside 36-year-old Sagi Dekel-Hen and 46-year-old Yair Horn, came with Israel freeing 369 Palestinian prisoners, showing Russia’s leverage in negotiations.
The controversy’s not just about words—it’s about what Russia’s doing. Putin’s refusal to condemn Hamas since October 7, coupled with hosting its leaders in Moscow, has strained ties with Israel, which once valued Russia’s neutrality in the region. His focus on Palestinian ties, while sidestepping Hamas’s role in civilian deaths, has led some to accuse him of using the conflict to poke at the West, especially the U.S., which he’s blamed for Middle East tensions. Yet Russia’s push for hostage releases isn’t new—Hamas freed Russian-Israeli Roni Krivoi in 2023 as a nod to Putin, and two other Russian citizens followed, all outside main truce deals.
Skeptics question how far Russia’s influence goes. Hamas’s military wing, not its political arm, calls the shots on hostages in Gaza, and even Moscow’s requests don’t always pan out—Maxim Herkin’s still captive despite Russia’s pleas. Others wonder if Putin’s playing a double game, boosting his global clout while risking backlash from Israel and its allies. The timing’s tricky too, with U.S.-led ceasefire talks faltering and Gaza’s aid running low, making Russia’s role as a go-between both critical and contentious.
For now, Putin’s gratitude call has left a bitter taste, especially for those like Troufanov, whose family paid a steep price. It’s a stark reminder of how geopolitics can twist even the most personal stories, turning a moment of relief into a lightning rod for anger and division. Whether Russia’s ties with Hamas will free more hostages or just deepen the rift with Israel, one thing’s clear: this story’s far from over, and the world’s watching every move.