Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, during a meeting with Vladimir Putin in Omsk, publicly urged an end to the war in Ukraine. Tokayev said the conflict “must be stopped” because it “plays into the hands and brings joy to the enemies” of both Russia and the Ukrainian state.
Tokayev proposed “freezing” hostilities and returning to the “Istanbul formula 2.0” — the negotiations that took place in Turkey in the first weeks after Russia’s full-scale invasion. He said a peaceful settlement was possible under guarantees from “great powers,” including Russia. At the same time, Tokayev stressed that Kazakhstan refuses the role of mediator.
The Kazakh president noted that the war is an “interstate conflict,” not a civil one. “The nature of this conflict is not entirely clear to many, including us,” he said, adding that Kazakhstan respects the Ukrainian people, their language and culture.
Tokayev also expressed regret over the loss of life, calling the dead “the gene pool of the fraternal peoples” of Russia and Ukraine. He said he receives “many signals” from Europe and the United States regarding the war and decided to voice his position publicly.
In response, Vladimir Putin promised to “inform Tokayev in detail” about the situation on the front.
Later, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said freezing the conflict is “impossible” given Kyiv’s position. “For us, there is a main condition — we must achieve our goals,” Peskov said. He added that the conditions for ending hostilities were outlined by the Russian Foreign Ministry two years ago, and the war could stop “by the end of the day” if Kyiv makes “the appropriate decisions.” Peskov also said Putin had told Tokayev in detail about the progress of the “special military operation.”