Kremlin says Putin’s visit to Kazakhstan ‘independent’ of Europe’s contacts with Astana

By Burc Eruygur

ISTANBUL (AA) - Russian President Vladimir Putin’s upcoming visit to Kazakhstan is not related to recent contacts between European countries and Astana, the Kremlin said on Tuesday.

“Of course, this is a completely independent dimension. It is not associated with any other contacts (made by Kazakhstan). We will further develop our good neighborliness and cooperation with Kazakhstan,” spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters in a press briefing in Moscow.

The Kremlin earlier confirmed that Putin will travel to Kazakhstan on Thursday, during which he will hold talks with Kazakh counterpart Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, attend the 19th Russia-Kazakhstan Interregional Cooperation Forum in the city of Kostanay via videoconference, and sign a number of agreements.

Peskov said both countries are partners and allies that are developing independent relations, and Astana’s relations with Moscow are much closer than others.

“This upcoming visit is very important from the point of view of the further development of the entire complex of our bilateral relations,” the official added.

He said an important part of the relations is related to regional cooperation, which will also be discussed at the plenary meeting of the regional forum.

He added that there will be a “synchronization of clocks on the entire complex of relations” between the two countries.

Last week, French President Emmanuel Macron was welcomed in Kazakhstan on his first official visit to the Central Asian country. He also visited Uzbekistan.

During the meeting with Tokayev, the pair signed a declaration of intent on cooperation on critical minerals.

Macron is said to be seeking to expand the supply of uranium from Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan for French nuclear facilities.

France and the EU imported uranium from Niger and Russia, but after a coup in the West African country, the new military administration stopped uranium supplies to Paris, whereas supplies from Moscow are under the threat of sanctions due to the conflict in Ukraine.