Lavrov promised Russia’s reaction to Western threats to Kazakhstan

Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that Russia would respond to blackmail and threats from Western countries against Kazakhstan. The minister announced this at a press conference with his Kazakh counterpart Murat Nurtleu, writes RBC.

“If <...> Western countries will try to engage in threats, blackmail, will force our allies to undermine relations with the Russian Federation to the detriment of their own national interests, then, of course, we will not hide our attitude towards such attempts,” Lavrov said.

At the same time, the minister noted that he is not against cooperation between Kazakhstan and Western countries, but it should be equal in rights and go in accordance with international law.

Earlier, Nurtleu called Russia a key economic partner and reliable ally in the Eurasian region. “The results of the negotiations have shown that our relations are developing progressively in the spirit of good neighborliness, friendship and strategic partnership,” said the Kazakh Minister (quote according to TASS).

On March 31, Russian President Vladimir Putin approved the updated Concept of Russia’s foreign policy. According to the text of the document, Russia “has self-determined as an original country-civilization, a vast Eurasian and Euro-Pacific power, a stronghold of the Russian world.” In addition, Russia does not call itself an enemy of the West, but considers the United States as the main source of threats to its security.