ALMATY, Kazakhstan, Nov 7, 2024 (BSS/AFP) - Russian President Vladimir Putin will travel to Kazakhstan later this month, Moscow and Astana said on Thursday -- an official visit to Central Asia's largest country by land area.

Kazakhstan is a traditional Russia ally but Moscow's invasion of Ukraine has caused worries in the former Soviet republic.

Putin's visit was announced during Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov's visit to Kazakhstan, where he held talks with his Kazakh counterpart, Murat Nurtleu.

Lavrov said the visit was planned for November 27.

The Russian leader last visited Kazakhstan in July to attend a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation -- a defence group that brings together Russia, China, Iran and Central Asian countries.

Kazakhstan has close political, economic and military ties to Russia.

But in 2022 Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev criticised Moscow's annexation of east Ukrainian regions.