Central Asia and the Ukrainian Crisis. Presentation of the Valdai Club Report

As Russia’s special military operation began on February 24, the countries of Central Asia found themselves in varying political and socio-economic conditions. The military-political crisis in Europe and the economic war of the West against Russia has impact on the Central Asia Five at the general regional and individual country levels. This influence is multi-speed and multi-level and depends on the state of national political systems, the state of affairs in the economy, the degree of economic integration and interdependence with Russia, as well as the scale of Western involvement in the republics’economy. The study of the processes taking place in the countries of the region in the context of the formation of a new world order is one of the research priorities of the Valdai Discussion Club. The authors of the Valdai Club report present a detailed analysis of the political, economic and humanitarian impact of the events related to the Ukrainian crisis on the states of Central Asia. The report analyses not only the impact of the conflict between Russia and the West on the international position of the Central Asian states, their economic development in 2022, the dynamics of trade and economic relations with Russia, but also the reaction of political elites and society to the Ukrainian crisis. How is the dynamics of development of the Central Asian states changing amid the destruction of the former new world order? Have there been any changes in relations between the states of Central Asia and Russia since the beginning of the Ukrainian crisis? How can one characterise the relations between the Central Asian republics and Western countries in the midst of an acute crisis in Europe? Participants in the report presentation will answer these and other questions.