Russia’s state news agency RIA Novosti reported on Monday that Kazakhstan, one of Moscow’s traditional allies, has lost enthusiasm for Russia’s plans for a post-Soviet economic union and a broader Eurasian partnership, Reuters reported.
Kazakhstan, the second-largest economy in the former Soviet Union, has gradually distanced itself from Moscow since President Vladimir Putin launched a “special military operation” on February 24.
In the more than eight months since the war began, the government in Astana has announced it will respect Western sanctions against Russia, offered to supply oil and natural gas to Hungary – one of Europe’s most energy-dependent countries on Russia – and has already refused to recognize Ukrainian territories that Putin claims which he annexed.
As recently as October 21, Kazakhstan announced that it does not want to pay for Russian gas in rubles, a rather symbolic statement, given that it is not on the list of “unfriendly countries” that Putin has declared it to be.
The Russian diplomat says that Kazakhstan has “let down the brakes” on cooperation with Russia
Comments from Kirill Barsky, Russia’s top representative at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Council, suggest Moscow is concerned these moves could undermine its efforts to build an anti-Western coalition in Asia.
“We have problems in our Union: recently, Kazakhstan began to slow down its participation in the Eurasian Economic Union and [proiectul] “Greater Eurasia,” said a Russian diplomat at a foreign policy conference in the upper house of the Russian parliament.
As RIA Novosti reports, he called this signal “very disturbing” and said that Russia needs to realize what Kazakhstan needs in order to return to normal cooperation.
The government in Astana has not officially announced any intention to intervene in Russia’s plans in Asia, but has again sparked consternation in Moscow after refusing its request to expel the Ukrainian ambassador “immediately” over his comments about the killing of Russians. However, Kazakhstan asked Kyiv to recall the diplomat.
Vladimir Putin personally spoke about the development of the “great Eurasian partnership” in May against the background of the country’s external isolation after the invasion of Ukraine.
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Source: Hot News RO
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