Berlin to Expand Trade with Astana Without Violating Sanctions Regime Against Russia – Scholz

Photo: Olaf Scholz and Kassym-Jomart Tokayev

Germany is interested in expanding trade with Kazakhstan, but will not allow this trade to be used to circumvent European sanctions against Russia, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said during a visit to Astana, Reuters reports.

“I am grateful for the trusting dialogue between us, through which we seek to prevent trade between us from being used to circumvent sanctions,” – said the head of the German government.

After the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the West imposed large-scale sanctions against Russia, forcing Moscow to look for workarounds for importing technologies and goods.

In need of goods whose supply to Russia is prohibited under the sanctions, Russian companies sometimes purchase them from companies based in Kazakhstan and other former Soviet countries. Official Astana has declared its intention to comply with the sanctions.

Both Scholz and Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said that Berlin and Astana are interested in expanding trade in oil, rare earth elements, lithium and other raw materials.

“Both sides benefit from such an exchange, because it allows us to diversify our economies and make them more resilient,” Scholz said. – A very concrete example of this is the oil supplies from Kazakhstan, which have helped us a lot after Russia ceased to be a supplier.”.