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The Wall Street Journal: Russia’s neighbors and allies, spooked by the bloodshed in Ukraine and international sanctions against Moscow, are now busy diversifying their international relations. So they are deepening ties with China and the West. In the countries of the former Soviet empire, Moscow’s influence has declined markedly because both its economy and military reputation have suffered from its failure to prevail in Ukraine.
In Kazakhstan, disapproval of Russia’s leadership has risen from 20 percent in 2021 to 50 percent, according to an April Gallup poll. Like other Central Asian countries, Kazakhstan can distance itself from Russia only by some distance. None of the former Soviet states officially recognized Russia’s annexation of four Ukrainian regions last year, with the exception of Belarus. The shift away from Russia is most visible in Moldova and Armenia. Russia’s failure to fulfill its commitments “has disappointed the government and people of Armenia,” Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said. Yerevan is now seeking to diversify its security relations, he said.
In Central Asia, the estrangement from Moscow is much more subtle. In part because states in the region, especially Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, are frightened that Russia is still capable of causing problems.
The entire article can be read at the link War in Ukraine Loosens Russia’s Grip on Its Own Backyard – WSJ
