Russian President Vladimir Putin met with freed hostage Sasha Troufanov, whose release from Hamas captivity was facilitated, according to Putin, through Russia�s relationship with the terror group.

Sasha Troufanov, along with his mother Elena and partner Sapir Cohen�who were all taken hostage during the brutal October 7th attack on Kibbutz Nir Oz�were received at the Kremlin this week. The attack killed Sasha�s father, Vitaly Hy�d.

In a televised segment aired on Russian state media, Putin openly acknowledged Russia�s longstanding ties with Hamas.

�The fact that you managed to go free is the result of the fact that Russia has stable, long-term relations with the Palestinian people, with its representatives, and with a wide variety of organizations,� he said, referring to Hamas not with condemnation but with respect.

Even more jarring to many was his expression of �gratitude to the leadership of the political wing of Hamas� for what he called a �humanitarian act.�

The meeting�which included Russia�s Chief Rabbi Berel Lazar and Federation of Jewish Communities President Alexander Boroda�was broadcast with Kremlin footage and official commentary.

Troufanov emotionally recounted his ordeal, describing 498 days of captivity in Gaza. Putin reportedly sighed heavily at the number.

Troufanov, an Israeli-Russian dual citizen, was freed in February�his release occurring soon after senior Russian diplomats met with Hamas representatives in Moscow and pressed for the release of Troufanov and fellow hostage Maxim Herkin.

Troufanov�s mother and grandmother had been released months earlier during a short-lived ceasefire. His partner, Sapir Cohen, was reportedly freed with him. The meeting was presented as a gesture of Russia�s humanitarian role�but the subtext is deeply concerning.

While most Western countries cut off all ties with Hamas�designated by both the United States and the European Union as a terrorist organization�Russia has chosen a different path, preserving diplomatic access that it now touts as leverage in sensitive hostage negotiations.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)