Russia plans to remove Taliban from terrorist list, says Putin's envoy

Russia plans to remove the Taliban from its list of terrorist organizations, according to a statement from President Putin's envoy. This marks a shift in Russia's stance towards the group, which it now considers a "trusted ally." During a diplomatic forum in Moscow, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov urged Western nations to lift sanctions on the Taliban and return Afghanistan's assets. He acknowledged the Taliban's efforts against drugs and terrorism without directly naming the group. Since the Taliban took control in 2021, Russia has been gradually improving relations with them. While no government has officially recognized the Taliban, China and the United Arab Emirates have accepted their ambassadors.