Between April 22 and 23, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov conducted an official visit to Uzbekistan, where he was received by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and held detailed discussions with Uzbek Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov. Lavrov focused on key geopolitical challenges and regional security issues during the visit, criticizing Western efforts, particularly by the US and EU, to politicize cooperation with Central Asian countries. On April 23, Russia's Special Presidential Representative for Afghanistan, Zamir Kabulov, and Russian Ambassador to Kabul, Dmitry Zhirnov, held working meetings with Afghanistan's Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi and Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani. Lavrov warned that Western attempts to reassert influence in Afghanistan risk creating a new security crisis. Additionally, on April 23, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Vershinin met with First Deputy Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan Abdrakhman Rakhmetullin to discuss combating international terrorism, extremism, and drug trafficking.