Russia’s Energy Crisis Puts Kazakhstan in a Tough Spot

Kazakhstan is trying to keep the Kremlin at arm’s length amid Russian efforts to lean on Central Asian states for help in bolstering Moscow’s staggering war economy. Ukraine’s ongoing drone campaign has inflicted severe damage on Russia’s energy infrastructure and its military-industrial complex, prompting Russian officials to seek emergency energy supplies and refining arrangements from Central Asian states, while exploring offshoring options for arms production. …