Russia cannot afford to lose the war in Ukraine, China has warned. Wang Yi, China’s foreign minister, said Beijing does not want to see a Russian loss because of fears the United States would then shift its focus on to China.

During a high-level meeting with European Union (EU) officials, China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi reportedly told EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas that China cannot afford for Russia to lose the war in Ukraine.

July 4 (UPI) -- Russia has become the first country to formally recognize the Taliban government in Afghanistan.

The Taliban seized power in Afghanistan amid a chaotic U.S. withdrawal and toppled the Western-backed government in 2021.

Russia has become the first nation to recognize the Taliban government of Afghanistan since it took power in 2021, announcing on Thursday it has accepted an ambassador from the Islamist group.