The call for an international peace conference came in response to Russian President Vladmir Putin’s visit to Israel and the West Bank on Tuesday as part of a tour to the Middle East, according to Maan news agency.

Russia’s administration has lost some credibility in the region as a result of its support of the Assad regime in Syria. It now hopes to re-establish its reputation by brokering a regional peace conference.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas met with Putin in Bethlehem to discuss a host of concerns, according to Maan News Agency.

Among the top issues in the meeting was the role Russia could play in mediating peace talks between Israel and Palestine.

The majority of the Jerusalem meeting centered on Israel’s fear of a potential Iranian nuclear weapon, despite no evidence for the existence of such a weapon, according to Haaretz.

After meeting with Putin in the presidential headquarters, Abbas said he assured the Russian leader that “negotiations are the only way to achieve peace between us and Israel.”

He stressed the leadership’s position that they cannot enter peace talks while Israel continues to expand settlements on Palestinian land.

Abbas asked Putin for help securing the release of Palestinian prisoners held in Israel, especially those detained before 1994. “We already agreed with Israel that they should be released, but that has not been put into effect yet.” he said, according to PNN.

The leaders also discussed the reconciliation process between Abbas’ Fatah party and rivals Hamas.

The presidents also talked about the Arab Spring and bilateral relations between Russia and Palestine.