Kazakhstan shares a border with Russia, they are too close to ignore. IMHO, Putin is ensuring that hostile forces do not take over and occupy any of the counties on Russia's borders, he is not empire building, but making sure that NATO or their controllers don't get a chance of establishing any threats next door.

Kazakhstan shares a border with Russia, they are too close to ignore. IMHO, Putin is ensuring that hostile forces do not take over and occupy any of the counties on Russia's borders, he is not empire building, but making sure that NATO or their controllers do't get a chance of establishing any threats next door.