‘We can’t act rashly’: Tokayev explains why Kazakhstan treads carefully with Russia
Kazakhstan’s relationship with Russia is rooted in concerns that a diplomatic disagreement cannot easily undo: a vast shared border, a sizeable ethnic Russian community and cultural ties spanning back decades, president Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said in Berlin.
Tokayev travelled to Germany on Tuesday to meet with chancellor Friedrich Merz and business circles on Tuesday. The two leaders spoke to the media on the back of the meeting, with ARD reporter Demian von Osten asking Kazakhstan’s president for his take on working with Russia in the current circumstances.
His argument connected foreign policy with stability at home.
«As for Russia, we should not forget that Kazakhstan and Russia share a border stretching 7,597 kilometres — the longest border in the world. That is a strong enough reason to develop friendly relations with that country, isn’t it?» Tokayev responded, as quoted by local media outlet Inform.kz.
«Kazakhstan is home to 2.7 million of our citizens with ethnic Russian descent. The [Russian] Orthodox Church also has a substantial presence in our country, and we hold it in profound respect. We must therefore take all these factors into account. We cannot act rashly.»
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Tokayev stated that Kazakhstan needed peace and stability to prosper, citing economic data as evidence of its progress. He promised to do everything in his power to maintain domestic stability and contribute to the resolution of the regional conflict.
Kazakhstan’s views on Ukraine
Making headlines in Europe and Ukraine, Tokayev referred to Vladimir Putin as an «outstanding statesman» and described him as «the most acceptable» Russian leader for Central Asia, Europe and the wider world.
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He also reiterated support for the UN Charter and the territorial integrity of all states before saying that the full cessation of hostilities in Ukraine «may not be realistic in the current circumstances.» Instead, Tokayev advocated freezing the fighting to make negotiations possible between Kyiv and Moscow.
Kazakhstan and Russia share trade and security ties through the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and the Russia-led Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO), which deployed a peacekeeping force during the unrest in Kazakhstan in January 2022.
Around 80% of Kazakhstan’s oil exports also pass through Russia via the Caspian Pipeline Consortium, leaving a major source of income vulnerable to disruption.
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Previously, political analyst Gaziz Abishev told Kursiv Kazakhstan that Tokayev’s remarks should be read as part of an effort to attract a wider range of investors while preserving essential relationships with Russia and China.
