The US is increasingly backing one of Russia's few remaining allies, seizing on cracks in the relationship after the invasion of Ukraine

• Kazakhstan, one of Russia's closest allies, has seemingly snubbed it since it invaded Ukraine.
• It has not openly criticized the Ukraine war, but has distanced itself, drawing Russian ire.
• The US says it supports Kazakhstan's independence and wants an "even stronger" relationship with it.

The US is increasingly supporting Kazakhstan, one of Russia's closest allies, as cracks appear in the nation's relationship with its larger neighbor following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.