The U.N. General Assembly adopted a resolution Monday over U.S. objections calling on Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers to reverse their worsening oppression of women and girls

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.

The Russian decision also stems from the fact that greater engagement with the Taliban government would help address the terrorist threat and advance its geostrategic interests.