[Goose]

A good question.  Understanding what Putin thinks is good for Russia and why is difficult.  A country with a vast landmass populated by a declining  and aging population where there is increasingly more women than men seems less and less like a world power. It is, however, the source of vast amounts of raw materials many other countries need.   The war is making the demographic issue worse.  Plus Russia itself has had its issues with terrorism.  One party's answer to your question is here, how good an answer it is, who knows.
https://carnegieendowment.org/politika/9...0terrorism.

I think the article has a lot of it right. There is an element of "the enemy of my enemy is my friend" involved, plus Russia's desire to be a "player" in the middle east. One thing that is "new" to this situation is that Russia is getting equipment (drones at a minimum) from Iran. In the past, Russia could ignore Iranian requests with impunity. Now they can't. It may be that if Iran asks Russia to support Hamas, despite the fact Russia wants to be the "big dog" in the area, it has to at least do some of what Iran wants. It is beholden to Iran to some degree and must act like it.

[Goose]

A good question.  Understanding what Putin thinks is good for Russia and why is difficult.  A country with a vast landmass populated by a declining  and aging population where there is increasingly more women than men seems less and less like a world power. It is, however, the source of vast amounts of raw materials many other countries need.   The war is making the demographic issue worse.  Plus Russia itself has had its issues with terrorism.  One party's answer to your question is here, how good an answer it is, who knows.
https://carnegieendowment.org/politika/9...0terrorism.

I think the article has a lot of it right. There is an element of "the enemy of my enemy is my friend" involved, plus Russia's desire to be a "player" in the middle east. One thing that is "new" to this situation is that Russia is getting equipment (drones at a minimum) from Iran. In the past, Russia could ignore Iranian requests with impunity. Now they can't. It may be that if Iran asks Russia to support Hamas, despite the fact Russia wants to be the "big dog" in the area, it has to at least do some of what Iran wants. It is beholden to Iran to some degree and must act like it.