We came to meet you: what Vladimir Putin and Sadyr Japarov agreed on

Moscow and Bishkek conduct 97% of their mutual settlements in Russian rubles and Kyrgyz som, having almost abandoned the use of foreign currencies. This was stated by Vladimir Putin during the Russian-Kyrgyz talks in Bishkek on November 26. Russia also remains Kyrgyzstan's leading trading partner. According to estimates by the President of the republic Sadyr Japarov, "hundreds of thousands of Kyrgyz citizens" work in Russia and contribute to the development of the economies of both countries. With this in mind, the Presidents discussed the sphere of migration. Other important topics include cooperation in the fields of security, culture and energy. On what terms Moscow supplies Bishkek with diesel and why the Russian language is so carefully treated in the republic — in the Izvestia article.

Meeting at the new residence

On November 26, the official part of Vladimir Putin's state visit to Kyrgyzstan began. Accompanied by a cavalry honorary escort, the presidential Aurus drove up to the eastern entrance of the Yntymak Ordo residence, where everything was ready for negotiations with Kyrgyz leader Sadyr Japarov.

The meeting place is remarkable. The residence was opened just over a year ago — on August 30, 2024, on the eve of Kyrgyzstan's Independence Day. The name symbolizes national unity — it was chosen for public discussion, and the word "Yntymak" itself translates from Kyrgyz as "peace, friendship and unity." It so happened that the Embassy of Ukraine is located next to the square where the welcoming ceremony of the Russian president took place in Bishkek. The host country installed a huge multimedia screen with the Russian flag in front of him.

The Russian-Kyrgyz talks lasted almost two hours. Both leaders called them productive in their final statement to the media. In the open part of the meeting, the Presidents emphasized their commitment to a historic partnership.

— Russia has been and remains a strategic ally, reliable partner and good friend for Kyrgyzstan. And, of course, we always appreciate the strong, multifaceted relations with fraternal Russia," Sadyr Japarov said.

The Russian President invited the leader of Kyrgyzstan to the traditional informal meeting of the CIS leaders, which will be held in December in St. Petersburg. He also expects Sadyr Japarov to come to Russia on a return state visit.

What was discussed at the talks between Putin and Japarov

Russia and Kyrgyzstan are working on new options for arranging settlements in mutual trade, the Russian president said. According to him, the parties already carry out about 97% of all payments in national currencies.

"It's a little easier for us here, because a large volume of payments still comes from Russia in the form of migrant payments, so there are large flows not only of trade, they are also balanced by payment flows," Maxim Reshetnikov, Minister of Economic Development of the Russian Federation, told Izvestia.

Moscow also remains Kyrgyzstan's leading economic partner: in 2024, trade between the two countries increased by 13.6% to a record $4.1 billion, and in January-September 2025, the increase was another 17%. According to Sadyr Japarov, in 2025 the number of Russian companies in the republic has increased to 1.8 thousand, which is three times more than a few years ago.

—Hundreds of thousands of Kyrgyz citizens work in Russia and make every possible contribution to the development of the economies of both countries," he said.

Japarov said that during the talks, the parties discussed the sphere of migration and "confirmed their mutual interest in ensuring the legal stay of our <...> compatriots in Russia," he said.

According to him, the presidents agreed to continue the joint work of the relevant departments of the two countries in this direction.

According to Bakyt Kadyrov, Deputy director of the Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, according to statistics at the end of the first quarter of 2025, 352 thousand Kyrgyz citizens were officially registered in Russia.

As a result of the negotiations, several documents were signed between different departments. In addition, the leaders adopted a joint statement on deepening allied relations and strategic partnership. Putin and Japarov agreed to step up cooperation in the fields of transport and logistics, biosafety, and labor migration. Separately, the Presidents called for strict compliance with the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. In addition, the parties recognize the important role of zones free of it.

How do they treat the Russian language in Kyrgyzstan?

The leaders agreed that the first three schools with instruction in Russian will be operational in Kyrgyzstan from September 1, 2027. Already, 157 Russian teachers are working in 42 schools in Kyrgyzstan as part of the Russian Teacher Abroad program. Sadyr Japarov asked to increase the number of teachers sent to the republic from the Russian Federation. He also noted that Russian higher education institutions remain one of the most sought-after among the youth of Kyrgyzstan.

— During the visit, an agreement was signed on the start of construction of a new campus of the Kyrgyz-Russian Slavic University. The campus will be modern, with new buildings. We expect the university to visit there in 2030. We plan that up to 15,000 students will study there. This is also a very important outcome of today's state visit," Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk, who heads the intergovernmental commission on the Russian side, told Izvestia.

Moscow appreciates Bishkek's attention to the issues of language support in Kyrgyzstan.

— Careful attitude to the Russian language remains, the language not only of Pushkin, Tolstoy, but also of our great writer Chingiz Aitmatov, — said Sadyr Japarov.

Moscow and Bishkek's energy plans

Today, Russia fully meets Kyrgyzstan's needs for gasoline and diesel, and on preferential terms — without levying export duties, Vladimir Putin drew attention. Gazprom supplies natural gas to the country and has joined the implementation of a gasification program for the Kyrgyz regions.

— The Russian concern has allocated more than $400 million for these purposes, which has already increased the level of gas supply in the country to 42%. And this work will continue," the Russian leader clarified.

According to Vladimir Putin, Russia supplies Kyrgyz consumers with electricity, and companies from the Russian Federation are involved in the design and modernization of hydroelectric power plants on rivers in Kyrgyzstan. Russia is also exploring the possibility of building the first nuclear power plant in Kyrgyzstan using advanced technologies of small modular reactors.

— Rosatom is implementing a large-scale program for the reclamation of uranium mining sites [in Kyrgyzstan]. The possibility of constructing the first nuclear power plant in the republic using advanced Russian technologies of small modular reactors is being studied, which, I emphasize, meet the most stringent safety and environmental protection requirements," the Russian president noted.

It is planned to jointly build a large solar power plant in the Issyk-Kul region, and a new modern thermal power plant in the north of Kyrgyzstan, the Russian leader recalled.

Both leaders stressed that the joint Russian military base located in Kyrgyzstan is a significant factor for stability in the entire region. The Russian air base in Kant was opened in 2003.