The Trump administration has become more supportive of tougher economic pressure on Moscow as hopes for a negotiated settlement have faded. Kazakhstan is particularly exposed because roughly 80% of its oil relies on the CPC route through Russia, which has already suffered serious disruption from Ukrainian attacks.
President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has consequently called for freezing the conflict while rejecting a formal mediation role for Kazakhstan.
Since returning to the White House in early 2025, President Donald Trump has consistently argued that the war in Ukraine should end through negotiations.
However, recent developments indicate that Washington’s assessment of Putin has become noticeably less optimistic.
New US sanctions could impact Kazakhstan's economy, especially in the energy sector.
