Russian president Vladimir Putin says Moscow is ready to help resolve the crisis in Gaza, adding that peace cannot be achieved without the creation of an independent state of Palestine.

Al Jazeera says Putin made the comments as he met senior editors from international news agencies at an economic forum in St Petersburg.

He said Israel’s answer to Hamas’s attack “looks like the total destruction of civilians” and believes the status quo is a result of “the total failure of the United States”.

His comments come as Slovenia on Tuesday became the latest European Union country to recognise an independent Palestinian state.

Its Parliament approved the move with a majority vote, dismissing a call for a referendum by the largest opposition party.

Recently, Spain, Ireland and Norway also recognized Palestine as part of a wider effort to coordinate pressure to end the war on Gaza.