Kazakhstan's Tokayev Urges Putin to Freeze War in Ukraine After Berlin Talks

Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev repeated his call for Russian President Vladimir Putin to freeze the war in Ukraine during a joint press conference with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Berlin on September 29, 2026.

Tokayev's position

"We insist that every country preserves its territorial integrity," Tokayev stated, urging Putin toward diplomacy and negotiations. He reiterated Kazakhstan's stance that military solutions are not a path forward.

The call from Tokayev — an ally who maintains ties with Russia — carries diplomatic weight. Kazakhstan has consistently called for a ceasefire and peaceful settlement of the conflict since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022.