Russia and the European Union share the opinion that Israel’s annexation of the Palestinian territories on the West Bank may trigger a new wave of violence in the region, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Tuesday after telephone talks with EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank could lead to a new round of violence, speaking in Moscow after a phone conversation with Borrell.

"Together with the EU we confirmed our common position and assessment that the implementation of plans to annex Palestinian territories on the west side of Jordan river will jeopardize the prospect of a two-state solution to the Palestinian-Israeli problem and may provoke a dangerous new round of violence in the region," Lavrov said.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that he plans to take steps to annex large swathes of the occupied West Bank and Jordan Valley from 1 July, as part of the US’ so-called “peace plan” for the region.

The West Bank, including East Jerusalem, is designated as occupied territory under international law. As a result, all Jewish settlements, as well as the planned annexation, are illegal.

Annexation is part of US President Donald Trump’s “peace plan” which was announced on 28 January. It refers to Jerusalem as “Israel’s undivided capital” and recognises Israeli sovereignty over large parts of the West Bank.