Neighbor Deals Major Blow to Russia Amid Sanctions, Invasion Threats

News Snapshot:

Problems are mounting for Russian businesses operating in neighboring Kazakhstan, according to a major commercial organization, as historic ties between the two former Soviet nations seemingly fray amid Moscow's war on Ukraine and showdown with the Western world. Nikolai Dunaev, the vice-president of the Opora Rossii—the All-Russian Non-Governmental Organization of Small and Medium Business—told the Izvestia news outlet on Monday that Russian payments to Kazakhstan are facing mounting delays because local banks fear being targeted by secondary sanctions for doing business with Moscow. Newsweek has contacted the Russian Foreign Ministry by email to request comment. Payments are reportedly being held...