Russian President Vladimir Putin renewed his criticism of the West, but said Friday, he hopes the Taliban will behave in a “civilized” manner in Afghanistan so the global community can maintain diplomatic ties with Kabul. “Russia is not interested in the disintegration of Afghanistan. If this happens, then there will be no one to talks to,” Putin said. He was speaking at the plenary session of the European Economic Forum in Russia’s eastern city of Vladivostok. “The sooner the Taliban will enter the family of civilized people, so to speak, the easier it will be to contact, communicate and somehow influence and ask questions,” he added. The longtime Russian leader said the withdrawal of the US-led forces from Afghanistan that was completed last month has ended in a “catastrophe”. Russia has treaded carefully in its dealings with the Islamist group that swept to power in Afghanistan this summer. Russia’s ambassador in Kabul met with representatives of the Taliban several days after the takeover and said Moscow will maintain its embassy in the country. Last week Russia started evacuating its citizens and those of several ex-Soviet states as the security situation in the country worsened. Russia has warned about extremist groups using the political turmoil to enter neighboring countries as refugees. Afghanistan shares borders with three ex-Soviet states in Central Asia where Russia holds military bases. Putin said Wednesday that the United States’ 20-year campaign in Afghanistan ended in “only tragedies, only losses.” Putin said that the US army tried to “engrain their norms” in war-ravaged Afghanistan for two decades, which he characterized as a futile exercise. “The result is only tragedies, only losses for those that did it — for the US — and even more so for the people who live on Afghan territory,” he said. It is “impossible to impose anything from outside,” he said. He has also complained about Western countries trying to place Afghan refugees in Moscow-allied Central Asian states. — Agencies