Key facts
- Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev urged Vladimir Putin to freeze the war in Ukraine during a meeting in Omsk.
- Tokayev proposed reviving the "Istanbul 2.0" negotiation format.
- Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha expressed appreciation for Tokayev's message.
- The Kremlin rejected the proposal to freeze the conflict but affirmed Kazakhstan as a close ally.
- Bilateral economic cooperation between Kazakhstan and Russia was also a focus of the meeting.
Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to freeze the war in Ukraine and return to negotiations, describing the ongoing conflict as a "shame" due to the loss of young lives. The appeal was made during a face-to-face meeting in Omsk, Russia, on the sidelines of the 22nd Forum of Interregional Cooperation between Kazakhstan and Russia.
Tokayev suggested reviving the "Istanbul 2.0" format, where significant results were achieved, to move towards peace with guarantees from major powers. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha responded positively, calling Tokayev's message "realistic, timely, and wise" and noting Ukraine's own proposals for a ceasefire along current frontlines and a turn to diplomacy.
During the discussion, Tokayev also mentioned receiving "many signals from Europe and the US" regarding the conflict and referenced Putin's "diplomatic flexibility" shown during a past meeting with US President Donald Trump. Putin indicated he would keep Tokayev informed of developments.
However, the Kremlin, through spokesman Dmitry Peskov, rejected Tokayev's proposal to freeze the conflict. Peskov stated that while Tokayev has a consistent position on Ukraine, Russia does not agree with his proposal, emphasizing Kazakhstan's status as a close partner and ally. He added that Russia would continue to explain the root causes of the conflict.
The meeting also focused on economic cooperation, with both presidents highlighting the strong trade ties between Kazakhstan and Russia. They discussed expanding trade, investment, industrial cooperation, and transport, noting a significant bilateral trade turnover and progress on a joint project to build Kazakhstan's first nuclear power plant.