This contribution describes the relations together with its historical ambivalences between Russia and Central Asia in its political and economic dimension. It refers to the discussions of the role of Russia in the Tsarist and Soviet period and highlights the challenges of Central Asia in the Russian view - such as the drug trade, religious fundamentalism, and related terrorism. Further, it details the economic aspect in the “mosaic” of bilateral relations with Central Asian states from energy trade/transport to migrant workers. It covers the different quality of relations for example the close cooperation with Kazakhstan to the complex challenges