Russian spokesperson: US, NATO never reported to UN Security Council on Afghanistan during 20-year presence

Maria Zakharova, spokesperson for Russia's Foreign Ministry, stated that during their 20-year military presence in Afghanistan, the United States and NATO never reported to the UN Security Council on their activities there, despite such reporting being a legal requirement.

Zakharova made the remarks Wednesday during a press conference in Moscow, in reaction to the activities of a Gaza Peace Council. She expressed hope that the Afghanistan experience would not be repeated in Gaza.

She recalled that Russia had proposed allocating $1 billion of its frozen assets in the US to the Gaza Peace Council for humanitarian issues, but has received no response from Washington.

Zakharova also referenced initial international agreements for stabilization forces in Gaza, noting that Albania, Indonesia, Kazakhstan and Morocco have expressed readiness to contribute troops to a 20,000-strong force. Egypt and Jordan would train Gaza police forces.

"We want to hope that the Afghanistan experience is not repeated. Over the past two decades, no reports have been provided by the Americans and NATO to the Security Council, while the legal principles of this reporting were explicitly mandatory," she added.

Zakharova emphasized that Russia will closely monitor program implementation in Gaza and highlighted the importance of coordination with the Palestinian side.