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Developments in Afghanistan

Taliban praise Russian authorities' statements on relations with Afghanistan — spokesman

Zabihullah Mujahid stated that the Taliban government has "extremely positive diplomatic and trading relations" with Russia

© Wandel Guides/Shutterstock

MOSCOW, May 29. /TASS/. The Afghan government formed by the radical Taliban movement (banned in Russia) assesses the latest statements of the Russian authorities on relations with Afghanistan as positive, the official spokesman of the Taliban government Zabihullah Mujahid has said in a commentary to TASS.

"Recently, Russian officials’ words have been positive. This shows that they want to keep interaction with the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (the name of the state used by the Taliban - TASS)," he said.

Mujahid stated that the Taliban government has "extremely positive diplomatic and trading relations" with Russia.

"With more trust and interaction, we will remove some obstacle [in relations]. The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan aims to develop good relations with countries, including Russia," the Afghan official pointed out.

On May 27, Zamir Kabulov, the director of the Russian Foreign Ministry's Second Asia Department, told TASS that the Russian Foreign Ministry and Justice Ministry had reported to President Vladimir Putin the Taliban could be removed from the list of terrorist organizations. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that the initiative "reflects the awareness of reality."

On May 28, Putin noted that it was necessary to build relations with the Taliban because they controlled Afghanistan and were the current authorities in that country. Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev told TASS on Tuesday that Moscow was close to establishing full-fledged relations with the Taliban government. He emphasized that a great deal had changed in recent years: whereas earlier the Taliban were considered terrorist, now the US authorities can be called terrorists' accomplices.

Zakir Jalali, an adviser to the Taliban foreign minister, said on May 28 that Russia's possible removal of the movement from the list of terrorist organizations would dismantle obstacles to formal relations between Moscow and Kabul, which had already made remarkable progress since 2021. Jalali confirmed that the Taliban have been invited to the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum in June.

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Exact dates are not known at this point, they are yet to be agreed upon, Dmitry Peskov said

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Designer Gosha Rubchinskiy was seeing him off

Russian air defenses engage aerial targets above Rostov — governor

Details are being verified

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Russian air defense, fighter aircraft seriously reduced Ukraine’s capabilities — general

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Ten drones shot down above south Russia’s Rostov Region — governor

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US intelligence interrogated RT reporter at New York airport for several hours - embassy

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Zambia interested in fuel supplies from Russia — Russian ambassador

Azim Yarakhmedov also noted that Zambia is very interested in attracting Russian business and investment

Russian economy deviates from base case scenario — Central Bank

According to regulator's Governor Elvira Nabiullina, discussions on the rate increase will be on the agenda in July

Six hospitalized after drone attack on south Russia’s Primorsko-Akhtarsk

A three-storey apartment building and a power substation were damaged

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Belarus vows joint response with allies to any border provocations — General Staff

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Russian combat aircraft destroying military targets over Black Sea — governor

Mikhail Razvozhayev urged city residents and guests to remain calm, observe security measures and stay in temporary shelters or safe places

Conflict in Ukraine could be stopped if strong foundation for peace is created — Erdogan

According to the statement, the Turkish leader affirmed Ankara's intention to "continue to strive for peace"

Ukraine uses ATACMS missiles against civilian targets as well — Russian general

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Bank of Russia sees complication of situation with cross-border payments

Elvira Nabiullina added that the business is adapting to the situation and the Central Bank is helping it in this aspect

Ashgabat ready to build up hydrocarbon supplies to SCO countries — Turkmen leader

Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow also invited the SCO countries to participate in the implementation of energy and communications projects in Afghanistan

US surveillance drones can be stopped by MiG-31 jets, air defense systems — analyst

Igor Korotchenko said the most effective way to fight such targets is to use long-range surface-to-air missile systems, such as the S-400 or S-300V, which are armed with long-range SAMs, as well as use air-to-air missiles carried by MiG-31s

Almost 70% of Chasov Yar liberated — lawmaker

There is concrete, there are concrete fortifications, as it is not a bare steppe, said Viktor Vodolatsky

Russian commander predicts Ukraine conflict will end this fall

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Much-vaunted Patriots can’t even defend themselves

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Hungarian PM arrives in Moscow

Viktor Orban told the media that he would like to convince Ukraine and Russia to "embark on a long journey which may end in a ceasefire and peace talks"

Hungarian PM concedes that Russia-Ukraine peace talks will be handled by heavyweights

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US national Woodland sentenced to 12.5 years in prison for attempted drug sale

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