Recently, Russia's Vladimir Putin met with Kazakhstan President Tokayev who was anything but diplomatic about Putin's war in Ukraine. Here is how that went.
“I will not hide that I am receiving many signals—which I have already informed you about by phone—from Europe and the United States regarding the current state of the conflict between Ukraine and Russia,” Tokayev told Putin as a slew of Kremlin-controlled TV outlets filmed the confrontation.
He went on to call BS on the Kremlin’s narrative of the war, saying, “The nature of this conflict is not entirely clear” and seems utterly pointless.
“This all needs to stop,” Tokayev said, urging Putin to “freeze” the war and return to negotiations. He twisted the knife by adding that despite “proposals and appeals,” Kazakhstan “categorically refuses” to act as a mediator in helping to end the war, since “Russia is a great country” and can “manage on its own.”
'Tsar' Vlad isn't accustomed to being addressed in this condescending fashion. Be sure his rage was towering, Tokayev is a brave man.
Kazakhstan resembles Ukraine - a former Russian colony now independent. Tokayev empathizes with Zelensky and fears similar military 'attention' from the former colonial master. Putin has made clear his obsession - currently stymied - to put the empire back together.
