Russia said on Thursday it had accepted the credentials of a new ambassador of Afghanistan, making it the first nation to recognise the Taliban government of the country. In a statement, the Russian Foreign Ministry said Moscow saw good prospects to develop ties and would continue to support Kabul in security,

Experts say Russia’s move to become the first country to officially recognize the rule of the Taliban government in Afghanistan is largely symbolic rather than one that changes the existing relations between Moscow and Kabul.

Russia has become the first country to formally recognize the Taliban rule in Afghanistan. Afghanistan’s Foreign Ministry announced on X Thursday that the Russian Foreign Ministry has decided to recognize the Taliban after a meeting between Russian ambassador Dmitry Zhirnov and IEA-Foreign Minister Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi.