All news

Russian FM denies Putin urged Afghan president to sign security agreement with the US

The Ministry stressed that Kabul should clearly understand the consequences of this step and to avoid a situation where it would run counter to the interests of third countries

MOSCOW, December 16. /ITAR-TASS/. The Russian Foreign Ministry on Monday, December 16, denied American assertions that President Vladimir Putin had allegedly asked Afghan President Hamid Karzai to sign a security agreement with the United States.

“The President of Russia said during his conversation with the President of Afghanistan on the sidelines of the SCO [Shanghai Cooperation Organisation] Summit in Bishkek on September 13 that the sovereign Afghan government had the right to make its own decision as to whether or not to sign this document,” the ministry said.

It stressed that Kabul should clearly understand the consequences of this step and to avoid a situation where it would run counter to the interests of third countries.