President Vladimir Putin said Monday that Russia would consider contributing troops to an international force in the Middle East if the United Nations approves deployment.
"So far there is no decision yet on sending peacekeeping troops. When there will be a decision we will consider whether to take part," Putin said.
Putin said he was not certain that the return of abducted Israeli soldiers would stop fighting in the Middle East.
"I don't think the situation has gotten out of control but I don't have the certainty that the return of the soldiers will stop the conflict," Putin said in response to a question on the gravity of the conflict in the Middle East.
Putin was speaking at the end of a summit of the Group of Eight industrial nations. The G-8 leaders on Sunday called for the Israeli soldiers abducted in Gaza and Lebanon to be released.
