Key facts
- Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to freeze the war in Ukraine.
- Tokayev proposed returning to negotiations based on the "Istanbul formula 2.0".
- He stated that peace could be achieved with security guarantees from major powers, including Russia.
- Tokayev made these remarks during a joint appearance with Putin in Omsk, Russia.
- Tokayev characterized the conflict as interstate, not a civil war.
Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has publicly called for a freeze to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, suggesting that a peace deal could be reached if both sides resumed negotiations. Speaking alongside Russian President Vladimir Putin at a Russia-Kazakhstan forum in Omsk, Tokayev presented his proposal as a personal opinion, stating that it was time to "freeze this conflict and return to the Istanbul Formula 2.0." He believes that with security guarantees from major powers, including Russia, progress toward peace could be made.
Tokayev also distinguished the conflict from the Kremlin's narrative, describing it as an "interstate conflict" rather than a civil war. He expressed respect for the Ukrainian people and noted that the nature of the conflict is not entirely clear to many. Despite these points, Tokayev reiterated statements aligning with Kremlin rhetoric, referring to Russians and Ukrainians as "brotherly peoples" and expressing regret over casualties on both sides. He also reaffirmed Kazakhstan's commitment to its strategic cooperation and allied relationship with Russia.