Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke with Israel's acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on the phone on Sunday to discuss the situation in the Middle East after Russia's talks with a delegation of the Palestinian group Hamas, the Kremlin said.

"They discussed in detail prospects for the settlement of the Mideast situation in the light of recent negotiations in Moscow with a Hamas delegation," the Kremlin press service said in a statement.

During the conversation, held at Russia's initiative, Putin and Olmert also discussed bilateral cooperation and "reaffirmed the wish for further development of friendly and constructive relations between Russia and Israel," the press service said.

The Hamas delegation, led by its political leader Khaled Mashaal, arrived in Moscow on Friday for a three-day high-profile visit. During talks, Russian officials insisted on the Middle East mediating quartet's demands for Hamas to renounce violence, recognize Israel's right to exist and observe previous deals with the Jewish state.

Russia is a member of the quartet, which also includes the United Nations, the United States and the European Union.

Hamas swept the January Palestinian parliamentary elections and is in the process of forming a government.

Source: Xinhua