^{Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Vladimir Putin. Photo}

Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Kazakhstan on Wednesday, November 27th, for a two-day visit, Moscow Times reports on November 27th. The trip aims to strengthen ties with Central Asian nations amid ongoing tensions over the war in Ukraine.

Kazakhstan is a member of the Moscow-led CSTO security alliance. However, President Tokayev has expressed concerns about the Kremlin’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine and has declined to publicly endorse it.

Read more: Kazakhstan’s President Orders Enhanced Security Measures Amid Escalation Around Ukraine

Ahead of Putin’s visit, President Tokayev wrote an article for the pro-Kremlin newspaper Izvestia, emphasizing his support for “peaceful dialogue” while avoiding any direct mention of Ukraine.

In an op-ed for a state-run Kazakh newspaper, Putin praised Kazakhstan’s “shared cultural, spiritual, and moral values”. He also pledged to enhance the “friendly and allied relations” with Astana.

Russian state media aired footage of Putin’s arrival in Kazakhstan’s capital. Trade and energy cooperation are expected to be central to the discussions.

Moscow Times and agencies