Russia’s Putin visits ‘friendly’ Central Asia on first trip abroad during war
- Russia’s President Vladimir Putin on first trip abroad since the beginning of the Ukraine conflict
- Putin is visiting two former Soviet republics, evoking Moscow’s responsibilities in the area
Russian President Vladimir Putin received a warm welcome in the authoritarian Central Asian state of Tajikistan, on the inaugural leg of his first foreign tour since the invasion of Ukraine in February.
“I’m very happy to be on friendly soil in our ally in this region of the world,” Putin said at the start of his talks with Tajik President Emomali Rahmon in the capital, Dushanbe on Tuesday.
“Russia is an important strategic partner and ally for Tajikistan,” replied Rahmon, who’s ruled the impoverished nation bordering Afghanistan since 1994.
The country remains economically very dependent on Russia. Tajikistan also hosts some 7,000 Russian troops, Moscow’s largest base abroad.
Putin’s talks in Tajikistan focused on cooperation and the situation in the region including Afghanistan.
Putin said Russia was working actively to “normalise” the situation in Afghanistan, which shares a 1,200km (750-mile) long border with Tajikistan.