The Russian and Kazakh leader met in Astana, Kazakhstan (Picture: EPA)
The president of close Russian ally Kazakhstan shocked Kremlin officials when he opened his speech in his native Kazakh, rather than Russian.
Russian officials were left scrambling for translation devices after President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev began his remarks during Vladimir Putin’s visit to the central Asian country.
Putin had been hoping to cement ties with his ex-Soviet neighbour and major economic partner in the midst of tensions with the West over Ukraine.
But many are suggesting that Tokayev’s choice to speak Kazakh for the first time in a meeting with Putin is a sign that all is not well between the two nations.
When Tokayev began his remarks, Russian delegates quickly searched for translation devices behind their gold-embossed chairs.
Putin also stumbled over Tokayev’s name during the meeting – and had to repeat it several times after stuttering over his words.
This is the first time Tokayev has refused to speak in Russian with Putin (Picture: Reuters)
The pair discussed economic issues in Astana (Picture: EPA)
Putin and Tokayev sat in front of delegates and reporters (Picture: EPA)
Oil-rich Kazakhstan has maintained a delicate balancing act with Moscow – preserving its economic ties but refusing to recognise the annexed regions of Ukraine.
But this conference marks the first time Tokayev has spoken his own language in a meeting with Putin.
In August, Tokayev also spoke his own language whilst the president of Azerbaijan chose to speak his native language – rather than the two speaking Russian together.
Many have speculated the recent refusal to speak Russian by its closest allies signifies Putin is losing control over the former Soviet countries.
More: Trending
It’s notable that Kazakhstan has tried to keep close ties to the United Nations – yet is one of Russia’s closest allies, having the longest land border with them on earth.
Other post-Soviet countries have also refused to recognise Russia’s annexation of Crimea, Donetsk and Luhansk, as well as the breakaway territories of Georgia.
In June, Tokayev humiliated Putin at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum and announced he did not recognise the territories.
Tokayev said: ‘In general, if the right of nations to self-determination is realized throughout the globe, then instead of 193 states that are now members of the UN, more than 500 or 600 states will arise on Earth. Naturally, it will be chaos.
‘Therefore, we do not recognize Taiwan, Kosovo, South Ossetia, or Abkhazia. This principle will be applied to quasi-state associations, which, in my opinion, are Luhansk and Donetsk (the so-called DPR and LPR).’
It comes as earlier today, Putin was spotted visiting war headquarters in Rostov-on-Don amid reports Ukraine is moving equipment as well as troops across the Dnipro River to previously Russian-occupied territory.
And many pointed out how the Russian president looked sinister on a visit to a children’s hospital.
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
For more stories like this, check our news page.