Vladimir Putin

"(President) Vladimir Putin said that due to identified coronavirus cases in his inner circle he should observe self-isolation for some time," TASS News Agency quoted the statement as saying. Due to this, Putin will attend the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) and Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) events slated to take place this week in Dushanbe via video conference, it added.

Addressing the 13th BRICS summit via video link, Putin pointed out foreign countries' desire to "build so-called democratic structures by socio-political engineering" without taking into account the local people's historical and national characteristics as well as their traditions, the Xinhua news agency reported.

Several points of convergence emerged in the dialogue. Russia has been engaging with the Taliban, which overran Kabul on August 15, for a long time. But the two countries decided they will coordinate their position regarding recognition of the new Emirate of Taliban, which would come only if there is a marked change in the behaviour of the Islamist group dominated by ethnic Pashtuns.

The Russians are also reinforcing security along Afghanistan's border with Central Asian countries, Moscow's backyard. On Tuesday, Putin clarified that Russia was closely monitoring the conflict but will not let its armed forces be drawn into an all-against-all conflict, Tass news agency reported. Putin pointed out that Afghanistan has been on the boil for decades.

"Had a detailed and useful exchange of views with my friend President Putin on recent developments in Afghanistan. We also discussed issues on the bilateral agenda, including India-Russia cooperation against COVID-19. We agreed to continue close consultations on important issues," Modi said in a tweet. In the 45-minute-long discussion with the Russian President, Modi also discussed bilateral issues.

He also said he hoped the Taliban would "guarantee the security of locals and foreign diplomats" and that the country would not break apart following the withdrawal of US-led forces, Guardian reported. Speaking at the Kremlin during a "farewell summit" with outgoing German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Putin noted that he was worried that militants from Afghanistan would try to infiltrate nearby countries under the guise of refugees.

Among the other prominent dignitaries expected to attend the debate are Democratic Republic of Congo President Felix-Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo, who is also President of the African Union, and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. In light of the ongoing Covid pandemic, Modi will preside over the discussion virtually. President Putin's attendance is being regarded as a major gesture.

In the telephonic conversation on Friday, the two leaders agreed to continue their constructive cooperation in the field of cybersecurity, Xinhua news agency quoted the statement as saying. Putin noted that despite Russia's willingness to cooperate on cybercrime suppression with the US, the Russian side has not received requests on this matter, according to the statement.

"I would like to stress that Belarus is not just a good neighbour, but above all our closest ally. Our relations are based on the principles of mutual respect, support and consideration of each other's interests, we are currently supporting and will continue to support our Belarusian friends in confronting the sanctions imposed by the European Union," the president said.

Disagreements were stated, said US President Joe Biden, but not in a hyperbolic way, and he said Russia did not want a new Cold War, the BBC reported. Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Biden was an experienced statesman and the two "spoke the same language". Biden said that they did not need to spend more time talking and there was now a genuine prospect to improve relations with Russia.