The head of the National Bank of Kazakhstan made an interesting statement regarding friendship with Russia

The head of the National Bank of Kazakhstan Timur Suleimenov made an interesting statement regarding friendship with Russia. According to him, the republic does not sacrifice it for the sake of friendship with the United States. He stated this in an interview with RIA Novosti.

"No way. There can be no friendship at the expense of other friends. We are a diversified country, we should be like that. But we by no means forget our allies and our obligations within the framework of the EAEU," he said, answering a question about Kazakhstan's likely strengthening of relations with the United States through ties with Russia.

Suleimenov expressed the hope that "there will be universal friendship."

"There are probably reasons to think so. If negotiations continue at the same pace and direction," he said on this occasion.

The banker added that Russia and Kazakhstan have reached settlements in national currencies at about 90%, the issue of increasing this indicator "solved itself."

Earlier, in 2022, as Deputy head of the Presidential Administration of Kazakhstan, Timur Suleimenov during his visit to Brussels said in an interview with European media that the purpose of his visit is to demonstrate to the European Union Astana's readiness to comply with anti—Russian and anti-Belarusian sanctions.

"We are the most pro—Western country in Central Asia. We have many common values. Firstly, we have a common continent, because 300 thousand square kilometers of Kazakhstan are located in Europe. This part of Kazakhstan is much larger than most EU countries. And in three to five years you will find much more similarities between us and countries like the Netherlands, France, Poland or other EU countries, rather than authoritarian Asia," he said then.