Russia–Kazakhstan: Alliance in the Heart of Eurasia

Just ahead of my state visit to the Republic of Kazakhstan, I would like to share my insight into the state and horizons of Russian-Kazakhstani relations.

Russia and Kazakhstan have forged truly strong bonds of friendship, good-neighbourliness, and mutually beneficial cooperation rooted in common history, with cultures and human destinies entwined. The strategic partnership and relationship of alliance between the two countries rely on the inviolable principles of mutual respect and trust and are an important enabler of peace, stability and socioeconomic development throughout Eurasia.

I would like to emphasise that it is with deep respect that Russia treats strong and prosperous Kazakhstan, with its effective political system supported by the nation, and a stable and fast-growing economy. Just a short time ago, your Republic adopted a new, forward-looking Constitution, which is in keeping with the spirit of the times. Citizens of Kazakhstan voted in its favour and thus expressed their large-majority support for President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev's policy toward consolidation of state institutions, comprehensive modernisation of the country, and sustainable social, economic, spiritual and moral development. I am confident that these ambitious changes, which are bound to be a success, will effectively strengthen Kazakhstan's statehood and improve the well-being of its people.

President Tokayev and I have established genuinely friendly and frank relations. Our meetings and conversations held in an atmosphere of trust are always results-driven. Enhancing Russian-Kazakhstani mutually beneficial ties in all areas is always our top priority.

Needless to say, with Russia and Kazakhstan being major trade partners, we place great focus on the economy. For several years running, our export and import operations, mostly carried out using national currencies, have remained at a high level. The total amount of Russia's accrued investments in Kazakhstan's economy is nearing US$30 billion. Enterprises established jointly with Russian partners account for more than 40 percent of all foreign-invested companies in Kazakhstan. Our investors are engaged in 70 major projects in the Republic, including in the automotive, heavy engineering, and chemical industry, as well as many other technology-intensive sectors, providing over 60 thousand new jobs.

Russia and Kazakhstan's energy cooperation has been advancing dynamically. The Caspian Pipeline Consortium carries over 80 percent of the total exports of Kazakhstan's oil to global markets. There are plans to involve Gazprom in improving the efficiency of and expanding the national gas transportation infrastructure, with a view to ensuring the Republic's sustainable energy supply. Furthermore, Russian businesses offer their Kazakhstani partners unique developments and know-hows in the field of alternative and clean energy.

Peaceful nuclear cooperation is an important pillar of our long-term bilateral partnership. The construction of the first nuclear power plant in Kazakhstan is a new flagship project involving the Rosatom State Corporation. The ceremony launching engineering works was held last year at the NPP site near Lake Balkhash, Almaty region.

Bilateral cooperation in the mining and processing of critical minerals is also expanding, meaningfully contributing to a greater long-term technological and raw material independence of our countries.

Innovative software products offered by major Russian IT companies are in great demand on the Kazakhstani market. As part of joint projects, cutting-edge digital platforms and solutions, including AI-driven ones, are deployed in industry and agriculture, transport and logistics, state and municipal governance, taxation, education, and medicine.

The year 2026 was marked by an important step in the space industry. On April 30, the first new-generation Russian-Kazakhstani Soyuz 5/Sunkar medium-lift rocket was launched from the Baiterek Complex. Symbolically, this event coincided with the 65^th anniversary of the first human orbital spaceflight: Yury Gagarin's historic lift-off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome.

Our countries possess a huge logistics potential thanks to their geographical location. That is why we attach great importance to the development of the North-South and Europe-Western China international transport corridors.

Environmental protection and biodiversity conservation are another important area of collaboration. Responding to our Kazakhstani friends' request for assistance in restoring the Amur Tiger population, our dedicated agencies engaged in the necessary efforts, which took a year to complete. Two mature tigers and two cubs trapped in the Khabarovsk Territory were examined, including for reproductive health, and then taken to Kazakhstan by an Aeroflot flight. Russian and Kazakhstani scientists are currently working together at the Ile-Balkhash State Nature Reserve to adapt and acclimate the animals, so as to shortly release them into the wild.

Our good-neighbourly relations are greatly facilitated by cooperation between our regions and our border areas, which implement over 80 agreements on trade and education, science and culture. We regularly hold interregional cooperation forums and exchange delegations, business missions and exhibitions.

We actively enhance our humanitarian contacts, cooperation in education, academic and scientific exchanges. I absolutely agree with the opinion President Tokayev has repeatedly expressed in his statements that it is important to involve youth in advancing our bilateral ties. It is up to the young to define the future of the relationships between Russia and Kazakhstan, to build on what we have achieved and bring modernity into our partnership.

In this context, I would like to highlight that more than 60 thousand Kazakhstani students are studying in Russian universities, including their eight branches in Kazakhstan. The government quota for Kazakhstani applicants has been increased to 800 places for the upcoming academic year.

Kazakhstani branches of many top Russian universities, including Moscow State University and MGIMO, are working successfully. In September 2025, the first foreign university opened its branch in Russia, and, what is notable, it was a Kazakhstani university - Al-Farabi Kazakh National University.

Together, we are working to establish the Kazakhstan-Sirius International School and a centre for gifted children and youth in the city of Almaty. They are to open in 2029, and we have agreed to establish a similar facility in Astana.

We have always cherished the shared history of the peoples of Russia and Kazakhstan, with Victory in the Great Patriotic War taking a special place in it. Our countries honour the deeds of valour of our fathers and forefathers, who stood together against Nazism and made enormous sacrifice to establish peace throughout Europe. We highly appreciate President Tokayev's visit to Moscow on May 8-9 to take part in celebrations marking the 81^st anniversary of the Great Victory.

The President of Kazakhstan rightly pointed out in his article Eternal Friendship - a Guiding Star for Our Nations, published in the Rossiyskaya Gazeta newspaper ahead of his state visit to Russia in November last year, the strategic alliance between our countries is crucial for maintaining stability and security across Eurasia. Back then, in November, the Declaration on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership was signed in Moscow, expressing our countries' shared commitment to forming a more just multipolar world order based on respect of norms of international law, including the provisions of the UN Charter. Russia and Kazakhstan advocate for the democratisation of international relations based on the principles of equality and consideration of legitimate interests of all states and their cultural and civilisational identity.

We share the belief that, in the current geopolitical turbulence, the role of regional cooperation mechanisms in which Russia and Kazakhstan are actively participating is more important than ever. First and foremost, I refer to the Eurasian Economic Union, the next summit of which is about to take place in Astana, as well as the Commonwealth of Independent States, Collective Security Treaty Organisation, Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia, and Russia - Central Asia format.

Russia highly appreciates Kazakhstan's contribution to the joint work within the International Organisation of the Russian Language, which was founded on the initiative of President Tokayev. The first Ministerial Conference held in March 2026 launched practical work of this unique organisation intended to maintain the role of the Russian language and Russian-language cultural and humanitarian space in the world.

I would like to conclude by reiterating that the Russian Federation is ready to further develop in every possible way its multifaceted relationships of alliance with the Republic of Kazakhstan. I am convinced that our negotiations during the upcoming visit will give a powerful impetus to the further strengthening of Russia-Kazakhstan partnership. I would also like to use this opportunity to extend my most sincere wishes of good health, well-being and prosperity to all the citizens of the friendly Kazakhstan.