Russia and the Afghan Taliban movement signed a military-technical cooperation agreement on Wednesday, May 27. According to Russian media, the document was concluded during the International Security Forum held in the Moscow region. The contents of the agreement have not been officially disclosed.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. The Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan in 2021 after overthrowing the foreign-backed government and subsequently imposed a strict interpretation of Islamic law. At a meeting with Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu, Afghan Defense Minister Mohammad Yakub said Kabul and Moscow had significantly expanded bilateral cooperation. Moscow’s rapprochement with the Taliban has been developing in stages. On May 14, Shoigu openly stated that Russia was building a “full-fledged partnership” with the movement and urged other countries in the region to expand contacts with Kabul. In April 2025, Russia’s Supreme Court suspended the ban on Taliban activities in the country. Before that, the movement had officially been designated as a terrorist organization in Russia. The Kremlin has also accepted a Taliban ambassador to Moscow. Afghanistan’s government said in July 2025 that Russia had become the first country to officially recognize Taliban rule, calling the move a “brave decision.” The announcement came after Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi met Russian Ambassador to Afghanistan Dmitry Zhirnov in Kabul.