# Russia’s pivot to East became only option after special military operation, Kobyakov says

https://mins.news/en/item/33753

- TASS, 2026-08-27 00:36 UTC
- Politics
- Original: https://tass.com/economy/2178111

> Russian Presidential Adviser Anton Kobyakov said Western sanctions and the severing of ties made Russia’s pivot to the East the only viable option after the start of the special military operation. He said virtually no Asian country condemned it or joined the anti-Russian front formed on the basis of NATO. The Eastern Economic Forum aims to deepen economic cooperation with ASEAN and APEC economies.