Planned talks in Russia with a delegation from Palestinian group Hamas may take place before the end of this month, a Russian official was quoted as saying today by Interfax news agency.
"It is quite possible," Interfax quoted Middle East envoy Alexander Kalugin as saying when asked if the Moscow talks would happen this month.
He said contact had already been made with Hamas to agree details of the visit.
Khaled Meshaal, Hamas' top leader who lives in exile in Damascus, would most likely lead the delegation to Moscow, Kalugin said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced this week he was inviting Hamas leaders for talks in Moscow.
Hamas, designated by Washington as a terrorist group, won a crushing victory in a Palestinian election last month and its representatives are expected to form a majority in the new government.
The Russian invitation drew an angry reaction from Israel and surprise from Moscow's partners in the so-called Middle East Quartet -- the United States, the European Union and the United Nations.
But Moscow has said that it will urge Hamas to abandon violence and recognise Israel's right to exist, in line with Quartet policy.