Russia, Commonwealth Of Independent States Foreign Ministers Meeting: CIS Updates

The Russian Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov, has been attending the annual meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) in Almaty. The meetings included the Foreign Ministers of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.

Following the discussions, Lavrov held a Press Conference and took related questions. In this article, he had edited these to include matters only related to the CIS, but for readers who want the full transcript, the complete interview can be read here. Featured are questions Lavrov took about the future role of the CIS, the current EU attitude towards the bloc, dealing with the current trade wars, and the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor. Media questions are prefixed Q, Lavrov’s responses and prefixed SL.

Q: “How do you see the role of the CIS in a multipolar world?”

SL: “We have been laying out our approach in detail. President Putin has put forward an initiative to build a Eurasian security architecture that would encompass the entire Eurasian continent, all the countries located on it, and all the supranational organisations.

The CIS is one of them. It has established working ties at the level of Secretariats with the SCO, the EAEU, the CSTO, ASEAN and the GCC. There is also an integration group in South Asia. The idea is that these sprouts of integration processes should establish contacts with each other, find coinciding interests, and join forces, while avoiding duplication and waste of resources.

The CIS, as a group that focuses on both economic and security issues, can and will definitely be an active partner in the efforts to establish material ties. This is what President Putin means when he promotes the Greater Eurasian Partnership. This initiative will provide a solid foundation for creating an Eurasian security architecture. The CIS will be part of this process, given the prominent security-related dimensions on its agenda. There is no doubt that the Eurasian continent will be the source and, perhaps, the leader of a number of processes to strengthen multipolarity.”

Q: The Head of European diplomacy Kaja Kallas, recently admitted that the anti-Russia sanctions are detrimental to the Central Asian economies. At the same time, she asked the Central Asian countries to be patient and understanding of the European Union. After this news conference, you will have a meeting with the foreign ministers of Central Asian states. What would you suggest they should respond to Kallas’s request for patience?

SL: “I would suggest they patiently endure Kallas’s tenure. It will be much easier than being patient to the detriment of their own people. I do not understand these politicians. But the funniest thing is that Kallas failed to mention that Estonia and other members of the European Union suffer more significant damage and losses as a consequence of their sanctions policy than any countries in Central Asia or our other neighbours in the CIS.

Meanwhile, Annalena Baerbock, who is now completing her tenure as German foreign minister, has become known for many things, including her exceptional illiteracy, but even more so for the lack of any responsibility to her voters. Baerbock, as well as Chancellor Olaf Scholz, admitted they were knowingly worsening the Germans’ living standards, but the voters must be patient and endure these hardships for the sake of “defeating” Russia. Ursula von der Leyen made a similar statement in relation to the entire European Union.

This suggests how little they think about their voters, instead focusing on making other countries endure adversity just to punish Russia, is a clear indication of how low the European Union has fallen and how much it has degraded as an idea that was initiated for the sake of socioeconomic prosperity of European countries’ populations.”

Q: Can such entities as the CIS or the Russia-Central Asia forum offer new methods to minimise economic damage amid the current trade wars? Did you discuss this issue today?

SL: “Yes, we certainly talked about these issues, although in practical terms they are discussed and addressed by the relevant agencies, such as finance ministries, central banks, prime ministers and deputy prime ministers.

There is no need to invent new methods. Over the past three years, the West has been trying to internationalise its sanctions and apply them to each and everyone who are interacting with the Russian Federation in any way, primarily our neighbours, including Central Asian states.

National currencies now account for 85% of payments in trade with the CIS countries. We are developing this process with China and, to a lesser degree, India, but the overall figures are growing.

Second, despite the sanctions, we can not only rely on national currencies but also create payment platforms that are free from external influence. One of them is the Financial Messaging System of the Central Bank of Russia, which is convenient and does not depend on SWIFT. There are several other initiatives, including those that are being considered within BRICS.

Brazil has proposed creating alternative payment platforms, and this work is underway. I am confident that even the countries that are not members of this group will be able to gain access to such mechanisms after they are created.

Despite the sanctions, Russia’s trade within the CIS increased by nearly 4.5% last year, and industrial production has grown by the same amount. Overall, this is a serious positive result, compared to the European economy. (RPA: EU growth was about 1% in 2024)

We will continue to work in accordance with our national interests. Our partners have stated, including during bilateral talks with Deputy Prime Minister – Foreign Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan Murat Nurtleu, that they want to act in accordance with their national interests as well. It is obvious that some private enterprises and banks are concerned about secondary sanctions, which can affect their interests. But it is also clear that the Central Asian countries’ benefits from trade and joint projects with Russia, as well as Russia’s investment in their territories, are certainly bigger and more important for their national interests than what the Western countries are promising in return for compliance with their demand to “encircle” Russia with sanctions.”

Q: According to the EU, it will invest more than €10 billion in the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor which connects Europe and Türkiye with the Caucasus, Central Asia and China in circumvention of Russia. The Trans-Caspian Corridor is a direct competitor to Russia’s North-South and West-East corridors. What risks does Russia see now that the work on this transport project has stepped up?

SL: “This issue is being discussed with five foreign ministers from the Central Asian countries.

Concerning the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, no one has yet seen the €10 billion promised by those whom the EU wants to bring onboard for implementing this project that will go around Russia and the Russian territory. That’s the first point.

Second, it is more expensive. If the EU suddenly decides to go ahead and invest in this project, it will cost much more than the North-South and East-West international transport corridors. We do not see anything wrong in, as the Chinese proverb says, seeing “a hundred flowers blossom” and considering all projects that help unblock transport links and create highly comfortable and convenient logistics opportunities. No one should impede any of them, though.

The North-South International Transport Corridor is a much more advanced project. It is more efficient in terms of lower costs involved in making it fully operational. It can be used to deliver cargo from the North to the South much more efficiently. In addition to the North-South International Transport Corridor, in its context and in parallel with it, routes from northern Russia to the Indian Ocean, the Persian Gulf, and ports of Iran, India, and the United States are being developed. The construction of such interchanges is being discussed in practical terms.

Kazakhstan is using several sections of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route. To reiterate, we have nothing against it provided no one throws a wrench into existing North-South and East-West transcontinental projects.”