The Russian foreign ministry said Wednesday that Moscow welcomes the resumption of direct meetings between Israel and the Palestinians.

In a statement, the ministry called on both sides to demonstrate their most constructive approaches, observe their commitments to the Road Map and implement confidence-building measures.

It also urged the two Middle East neighbors to avoid unilateral and provocative actions, especially those regarding the settlements construction.

Israeli and Palestinian negotiators met Tuesday in the Jordanian capital of Amman for their first public face-to-face meeting in some 16 months.

Direct peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians broke down in September 2010, just a few weeks after it restarted thanks to U.S. mediation.

Russia is a member of the international peacemaking Quartet, which also includes the United Nations, the European Union and the United States. The group has been trying to resume the Israeli-Palestinian peace talks before Jan. 26.