Putin and Kazakhstan's Tokayev Reaffirm Ties After Ukraine Tensions

INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Kazakhstan's president Kassym-Jomart Tokayev met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin on Monday, with the allies reaffirming
historic ties following public disagreements over Ukraine.The visit to Moscow was the Kazakh leader's first foreign trip since being
inaugurated for a second term last week, with the 69-year-old saying his choice to visit Moscow was symbolic."This is my first foreign visit
after this event and that in itself has political significance and, of course, a certain symbolism," Tokayev said, sitting next to Putin
Astana have a "special character."He called for the strengthening of economic ties, saying this was "especially timely now, when
the border with Kazakhstan, via video link
Moscow-led CSTO security bloc in Armenia last week, Tokayev called for a "joint collective search for a formula for peace.""We must not
earlier this month, winning a vast majority of votes after facing no real opposition candidates.