Russia’s President Vladimir Putin assured embattled Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas that Moscow will support his administration and as a first good will gesture Russia will give military vehicles along with other equipment to the Palestinians.

During a meeting with his Palestinian counterpart held on Tuesday, Putin said it will keep down relations with Hamas and expressed his belief that Abbas has the power to unite all Palestinians.

“I want to assure you that Russia will support you. I am convinced that you will do everything to restore the unity of the Palestinian people,” the Kremlin leader reportedly told Mahmoud Abbas.

Regarding the military support, government officials said it will consist in 50 armored vehicles and auxiliary equipment that would be used for peacekeeping purposes only.

The “legitimate leader of all Palestinians,” as Putin called Abbas, is engaged in a political fight with Hamas since gunmen from its military wing seized control over Fatah Security Force compounds after days of bloodshed in Gaza.

Abbas decided to dissolve the unity government formed with the Sunni organization and form a caretaker administration headquartered in the West Bank led by renown economist Salam Fayyad.

Western powers and Israel offered their support for the newly-formed government, blaming Hamas for the internal fighting that displaced thousands of people and caused political instability.

Abbas began holding meetings with representatives of nations that pledged to support his drive for the establishment of law and order in both Palestinian territories that have been divided since last month, his visit to Russia that began on Sunday being the latest in a series of interviews with members of the Quartet on the Middle East.