Putin visits Kazakhstan, part of his efforts to cement ties with ex-Soviet neighbors

MOSCOW — Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Kazakhstan on Thursday, part of his efforts to cement ties with the ex-Soviet neighbor and major economic partner in the midst of tensions with the West over Ukraine.

Putin’s talks in Kazakhstan’s capital of Astana follow his trip last month to Kyrgyzstan for a summit of ex-Soviet nations and a visit to China.

Speaking at the start of his talks with Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Putin hailed “multi-faceted” ties between the countries and said they would determine new areas of “strategic” cooperation.

Oil-rich Kazakhstan and other Central Asian nations have maintained a delicate balancing act, preserving strong economic ties with Moscow but refusing to recognize its annexation of Ukrainian regions.

Speaking after the talks, Tokayev noted that Russia has been Kazakhstan’s largest trading partner, with bilateral trade reaching a record $27 billion last year. “We have large opportunities for further expansion of the trade volume,” he said.

Russian and Kazakh officials signed several agreements on energy, customs and labor issues.

Putin said the two countries set “really ambitious tasks for further strengthening of the comprehensive strategic partnership.”

The Russian leader has made few foreign trips since he sent troops into Ukraine in February 2022. The International Criminal Court’s move to indict Putin in March for alleged war crimes connected to the deportation of children from Ukraine has affected his travel as any country that is party to the court is obliged to arrest him on its soil. Kazakstan isn’t part of the agreement that created the tribunal.

Putin’s trip to Kazakhstan comes days after French President Emmanuel Macron visited…