Italy's Draghi, Russia's Putin discuss Afghan crisis, G20 summit-statement

FILE PHOTO: Italy's Prime Minister Mario Draghi delivers a statement during the 8th MED7 Mediterranean countries summit, in Athens, Greece, September 17, 2021. REUTERS/Costas Baltas

Italy's Prime Minister Mario Draghi and Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed on Wednesday, in a phone conversation, the situation in Afghanistan ahead of a G20 summit scheduled in Rome for Oct. 30-31, a statement by the Italian government said.

(Reporting by Angelo Amante, editing by Giulia Segreti)

FILE PHOTO: Russian President Vladimir Putin attends the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit via a video link at his residence outside Moscow, Russia, September 17, 2021. Sputnik/Alexei Druzhinin/Kremlin via REUTERS