Russian Vladimir Putin on Saturday announced the start of gas supplies to Uzbekistan via Kazakhstan, a boost for Russia's industry hit by a flurry of Western sanctions over the offensive in Ukraine.
Despite being home to a wealth of natural resources including gas, the Central Asian country of Uzbekistan has faced energy shortages.
Moscow meanwhile relies heavily on energy revenues but has seen export plummet since the offensive.
"This is the largest trilateral energy project" between the three ex-Soviet countries, Putin said, after formally launching the shipment.
He was hosting a meeting in Moscow with his Uzbek and Kazakh counterparts, Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.
"The timely implementation of such... project shows that Russia, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan are capable of tackling the most complex and ambitious tasks," Putin said.
"Kazakhstan will be able to solve the issue of gasification of its northern and eastern regions" while Uzbekistan will "gain another source of energy".
Putin added that the leaders would during the afternoon discuss further cooperation in the energy sector as a whole.
Russia's offensive against Ukraine has rattled nerves in Central Asian nations, including Kazakhstan, which has sought to distance itself from Moscow.
But the former Soviet states retain close political and economic ties with Russia.
Russian gas exports decreased by 21.5 percent in 2022 as the European Union, once the largest buyer of Russian gas, drastically reduced imports.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
