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.

On Thursday, the Russian Foreign Ministry announced that they had received credentials from the newly appointed Ambassador Gul Hassan Hassan by the Taliban

After Russia became the first country to officially recognise the Taliban government, China has welcomed the move, fuelling speculation it may be next. As regional powers deepen ties with Kabul, questions mount about the global legitimacy of Afghanistan’s isolated rulers.