Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev told Vladimir Putin that Russia’s war against Ukraine must be stopped, as its continuation is «to the delight of our enemies». Putin, for whom the International Criminal Court has issued an arrest warrant, said he would brief Tokayev on the progress of the war against Ukraine.
Briefly about the main points
- Tokayev called on Putin to put an end to Russia’s war against Ukraine.
- The President of Kazakhstan described the continuation of the war as a cause for celebration for the enemy.
- Putin said he would brief Tokayev on the progress of the war.
- Astana has consistently supported a political and diplomatic settlement.
- Kazakhstan has highlighted the risks to international trade, energy markets and logistics.
Tokayev’s call for an end to the war
During his meeting with Vladimir Putin, the President of Kazakhstan stated that war Russia’s actions against Ukraine must be stopped. According to him, their continuation is «a source of joy for our enemies».
Putin also stated that he would brief Tokayev on the progress of the war against Ukraine. No further details of this conversation — in particular, its format, duration or any possible agreements — are provided in the available reports.
Astana’s position on the Russian-Ukrainian war
Tokayev’s statement is in line with Kazakhstan’s official position, which calls for a political and diplomatic settlement as soon as possible, in accordance with the UN Charter and the fundamental principles of international law. In September 2025 Kazakhstan He reaffirmed this position during a meeting between the foreign ministers of Kazakhstan and Ukraine.
That same month, following a meeting with Tokayev, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked Kazakhstan for its support for Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity. Tokayev himself emphasised at the UN General Assembly that the principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity and peaceful settlement must be applied without exception.
However, this statement does not imply a change in Astana’s foreign policy course or Kazakhstan’s alignment with the position of either side. Kazakhstan advocates a multi-vector policy and does not consider itself a party to any armed conflicts.
The economic context for Kazakhstan
For Kazakhstan, the ongoing war also has a direct economic dimension. On 23 July 2026, the Kazakh Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the drone attacks on 17 and 19 July 2026 against civilian vessels in the Black Sea, which were transporting oil via the infrastructure of the Caspian Pipeline Consortium.
The ministry described these attacks as an encroachment on the country’s economic interests and a threat to international trade, energy markets and logistics. At the time, the Kazakh Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not attribute responsibility for the attacks to any particular party.
Tokayev’s reference to «enemies» may also point to this broader regional context — risks to security and export routes. However, this is an editorial interpretation: the President of Kazakhstan has not publicly explained exactly who he was referring to.
A contrast with the Kremlin’s rhetoric
In June 2026, Putin claimed that Russia was supposedly ready for a diplomatic resolution to the war, but at the same time spoke of his readiness to «defeat Ukraine on the battlefield» if necessary. Therefore, the fact that he made contact with Tokayev does not in itself indicate that Moscow is prepared to cease its aggression unconditionally.
On 17 March 2023, the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Putin in connection with the unlawful deportation and transfer of children from the occupied territories of Ukraine to Russia.
