The Taliban among the guests at Russia's International Economic Forum | AFP

Representatives of the Taliban participate in the Saint Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) – once dubbed "Russia's Davos" – amid Russia's push to normalise ties with the militant Islamist group. Some 20,000 guests from 140 countries are set to take part in the forum both online and in person, according to the Kremlin, while high‑profile European and American representatives are absent for the fourth year running amid Moscow's offensive on Ukraine.