Russian President Vladimir Putin invited Hamas to visit Moscow last month, and suggested that Iran transfer its uranium enrichment program to Russian territory. Both proposals exasperated the United States and surprised the world.

by Yin Gang

It would be hard to find an event that better characterizes Russia's convoluted Middle East diplomacy and uncertain attitude to political Islam than the visit last month to Moscow by a Hamas delegation. Despite the Hamas visit, Russia continues to lambaste any contacts, however innocuous, by the Europeans and the Americans with representatives of the Chechen separatist movement.

by Konstantin Eggert