Jeremy Page, Moscow Correspondent for The Times, believes that Russia's attempts to engage Hamas could help to tame the terrorist organisation's radical agenda

"As is frequently the case in Russian politics, there are a number of different interest groups involved in Moscow's decision to engage with Hamas.

"President Putin is keen to restore Russia's role as a major player in the Middle East. For the last 15 years, it has been distracted by its own domestic problems and it has been sidelined by the United States.

"A lot of people who used to be involved in foreign policy and international security issues have felt rather put out as they have watched the US calling the shots.

"There are certainly others. perhaps in the Foreign Ministry, who say that this represents an opportunity for Russia to do something positive on the world stage, to prove that the country can behave as a responsible power to help to resolve some of the big stand-offs. The same is true of Russian intervention in disputes in Iran and North Korea.

"There are also those who consider this an opportunity to reclaim lost influence in the Middle East, while others will see it as a practical chance to win contracts to sell to the Palestinian Authority.

"But whatever the reasons, everyone agreed with the policy of engaging Hamas.

"Russia has historical links with organisations and regimes that the West has either very poor relations with or none at all. During the Cold War, when Israel was backed by the US, Russia aligned itself with its opponents. This meant that it has historical ties to groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah which it now hopes to exploit.

"I don't think it's Russia sticking two fingers up to the US. America is in a very difficult position - Hamas was legally elected but the White House can not talk to them because it lists them as a terrorist organisation. Russia does not.

"It is undoubtedly very useful for the West to use Russia as a channel of communication with North Korea and Iran.

"Russia also has a very close relationship with Israel and there's a huge Russian Jewish population in Israel which has grown considerably over the past 15 years. They were politically conservative and it was from this bloc that Ariel Sharon derived considerable support.

"There were always going to be people in Israel who would be annoyed by any attempts to engage Hamas, but everybody in the West knows that Russia does not consider it to be a terrorist organisation.

"There are enough people in the West who would consider this a positive move and perhaps encourage Hamas to behave more responsibly."

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