Relationship dossier
Kazakhstan
Ukraine
Relationship assessment
A long-standing cooperation framework amid differing approaches to Russia’s war against Ukraine
Kazakhstan toward Ukraine
+10Kazakhstan’s 2022 statements rejecting recognition of Russia’s claimed annexations of Ukrainian territory aligned with Ukraine’s territorial integrity. Kazakhstan has not joined Western sanctions on Russia, reflecting a cautious policy that limits alignment with Ukraine.
Ukraine toward Kazakhstan
+15The 1994 Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation provides a bilateral framework between Ukraine and Kazakhstan. The extent of recent Ukrainian government initiatives toward Kazakhstan is unclear.
Overall relationship
+10The relationship rests on a formal treaty framework and continuing bilateral ties, while Kazakhstan’s careful balancing of its position on Russia’s war against Ukraine limits political alignment. The resulting structure is cooperative but constrained by geopolitical divergence.
How to read these scores
Scores are rough judgments, not objective measurements or current verification. Directional scores describe government policy and conduct, not public opinion. The overall score is an independent estimate, never an average.
- −100
- Extreme sustained hostility
- −50
- Substantially adversarial
- 0
- Mixed or neutral, supported by knowledge
- +50
- Substantially cooperative
- +100
- Exceptionally close sustained partnership
“Not assessed” means there is no recorded score. Pair existence makes no claim about diplomatic recognition or established relations.
Relationship context
Overview
Kazakhstan and Ukraine have a long-standing treaty framework for cooperation, but Kazakhstan’s cautious position on Russia’s war against Ukraine limits the extent of political alignment. Kazakhstan has said it will not recognize Russia’s claimed annexations of Ukrainian territory, while it has also avoided joining Western sanctions on Russia. The relationship combines formal cooperation with geopolitical divergence.
Key developments
Kazakhstan and Ukraine signed a Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation.
President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said Kazakhstan would not recognize Russia’s claimed annexations of Ukrainian territory.
Major uncertainties
- The scope and present implementation of bilateral cooperation agreements are unclear.
- The extent of recent Ukrainian government cooperation with Kazakhstan is unclear.