Abstract. The article discusses the current state and development prospects of relations between Kazakhstan and Russia after the President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev came to power in 2019. The article analyses conditions for the formation of the Russian direction of the foreign policy strategy of the current Head of Kazakhstan. According to the author, trade, economic, investment, cultural and humanitarian cooperation between Kazakhstan and Russia is mutually beneficial and has no alternative at present, despite all sorts of promises from third countries. It emphasizes the principled position of the President of Kassym-Jomart Tokayev regarding the Victory of the Soviet people in the Great Patriotic War and the need for Kazakhstan to develop not just friendly and partnership relations with Russia, but allied ones.