ST. PETERSBURG, August 7. /TASS/. Russia and Kazakhstan always have alternative cooperation options available amidst sanctions, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin told TASS on the sidelines of the 3rd third media forum between Russia and Kazakhstan.

"As for sanctions, they are completely illegitimate. We are aware of several Kazakhstani companies mentioned in the notorious 21st package. We consider these sanctions illegitimate, aimed at securing geoeconomic advantages through unfair competition, and completely unjustified," he said.

In this environment, the two countries "always have alternatives: the EAEU and other Eurasian integration structures where the goals of joint development and the strengthening of our cooperation are successfully being met," Galuzin said.

The first media forum between Russia and Kazakhstan was held at the TASS headquarters in Moscow in November 2024, marking the agency’s 120th anniversary. The second meeting in this format took place last year in Almaty.