Tokayev in Berlin: Ukraine, Russia, and Germany's growing economic interest in Kazakhstan
President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev met Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Berlin on 29 September, discussing the war in Ukraine, energy, critical minerals and investment; cumulative German investment in Kazakhstan exceeds $8 billion.
Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev met German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Berlin on 29 September. Talks covered the war in Ukraine, relations with Russia, energy, critical minerals, transport corridors and German investment in Kazakhstan.
Ukraine and Russia
Tokayev called for a freeze on hostilities in Ukraine before moving toward diplomacy, while emphasising Kazakhstan's close ties with Russia and saying he maintains good relations with the Russian president. Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Moscow had so far shown no willingness to engage in substantive peace talks.
Economic ties and energy
The main topic was economic cooperation. Kazakhstan is Germany's fourth-largest oil supplier after Norway, the United States and Libya. In 2025 Kazakhstan supplied 2.146 million metric tons of oil to Germany's PCK refinery. Over 80% of Kazakh oil exports travel via the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) to the Black Sea; CPC exports were 5.7 million metric tons in August 2026. Transit via the Druzhba pipeline was suspended in May 2026.
Investment and critical minerals
Cumulative German investment in Kazakhstan exceeds $8 billion. Around 40 joint projects (worth more than $4 billion) are being implemented, with a further 37 projects (about €1.8 billion) planned. Kazakhstan supplies uranium, chromium and titanium to European industry.
Whatever may happen on the territory of Ukraine, we never forget that both Russia and Ukraine are our good friends.
— Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, President of Kazakhstan, Berlin, 29 September
