OMSK (Reuters) – Kazakhstan's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has called for Russia and Ukraine to freeze the conflict and resume peace negotiations, saying such a move could pave the way for a long-term settlement.
Speaking alongside Russian President Vladimir Putin at a Russia-Kazakhstan forum in the Siberian city of Omsk on Saturday, Tokayev praised Putin's "utmost diplomatic flexibility."
Offering what he described as his personal view, Tokayev said it may be time to "freeze this conflict and return to the Istanbul Formula 2.0."
Russia and Ukraine held peace negotiations in Istanbul shortly after Moscow launched its full-scale invasion in 2022 and resumed talks in 2025, but neither round produced a breakthrough.
Tokayev said meaningful progress toward peace would require security guarantees from major powers, including Russia.
"With guarantees from the great powers, including Russia, we could move forward toward a long-awaited peace," he said, adding that the conflict "must be brought to an end."