Russian President Vladimir Putin welcomed a Palestinian and seven other new ambassadors to Moscow in a ceremony Thursday.

At the St. Alexander's Hall of the Grand Kremlin Palace, Putin welcomed the ambassadors from Azerbaijan, Egypt, Ghana, Guatemala, Kazakhstan, Morocco, New Zealand and the Palestinian Authority.

Putin said in a speech he wanted to see the Palestinians seek peace, and said they would have Russian support, the Itar-Tass news agency reported.

We believe it is necessary to resume the peace process on the basis of the 'road map' settlement plan and consistently move toward its destination point -- the creation of an independent Palestinian state peacefully coexisting with Israel, Putin said. Russia is ready also in the future to provide assistance to the Palestinian government ...with (Palestinian Authority Chairman) Mahmoud Abbas as its leader.