"[Netanyahu] presented Israel's position whereby he is always ready to meet [Abbas] without preconditions and is therefore considering the Russian president's proposal and the timing for a possible meeting," the statement reads, as cited by Reuters news agency.
The statement came after Netanyahu held talks with Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister and Special Envoy to the Middle East, Mikhail Bogdanov.
If agreed upon, the talks would be the first between the two leaders in several years, amid the ongoing rift in the region.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said there is currently no agreement regarding the talks.
Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki said that he doubts Netanyahu is ready to fulfill the conditions needed for the talks to take place. Israel must stop building settlements in the West Bank, as well as release a number of Palestinian detainees, he said.
"In this framework we do not oppose holding the meeting [...] between Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Benjamin Netanyahu under the aegis of Russia. But it seems to us that Netanyahu is not currently ready for such a step," al-Maliki said, according to Al Ayam newspaper, as cited by Sputnik.
Comment: Israel knows the Empire is on its way down and will need a new patron soon. It looks like the price for cozying up to Russia will be to give at least the appearance of wanting to talk peace with the Palestinians.